What Prince Andrew's Titles Loss Signifies for Fergie, Beatrice and Eugenie

York Family Figures

Prince Andrew's removal from the last vestiges of royal life has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.

Sarah Ferguson's Title Change

His ex-wife has now surrendered her ducal status and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.

For Ferguson, 66, the transition will be the most visible.

Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She has lost a certain prestige over this," said one monarchy expert. "She definitely does use the title – including her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, multiple organizations dropped her as patron after correspondence from over a decade ago revealed that she called Epstein her "supreme friend" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.

Business Ventures and Charity Work

Away from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.

And these, too, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, says one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in royal circles. She's kept recovering strongly.

"She's the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," commented one monarchy writer.

The Princesses

Princess Beatrice at event
Princess Beatrice and Princess Beatrice seen at a Coronation Big Lunch in 2023

For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.

They will still be referred to as princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.

Additionally there is no modification to the line of succession.

The prince stays eighth in line to the throne, followed by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place respectively.

But in practice their standing are "distant" and will probably become much further down as time goes on.

Coming Opportunities

The princesses are also currently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – The younger princess was recently announced as a mentor for the monarch's charity program – experts also say they "can't see a scenario" in which they would step up into official responsibilities.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this scandal isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to affect them personally in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.

"The princesses are most unfortunate victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their silence," states another monarchy writer.

Ultimate Consequences

Ultimately, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most affected by all of this will be the Duke himself.

For a man who consistently enjoyed the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the pageantry, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

So to not have these, on a personal level, will significantly count.

Laura Madden
Laura Madden

A tech journalist with over a decade of experience, passionate about reviewing gadgets and sharing innovative tech solutions.