What Prince Andrew's Titles Loss Means for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie

York Family Members

Prince Andrew's exit from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.

Fergie's Title Change

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

For Ferguson, sixty-six, the transition will be the most apparent.

For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," said one monarchy expert. "She definitely does use the title – even her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the relinquishment of her status may affect her much less than the controversy she's dealing with independently about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, several charities removed her as patron after an email from 2011 showed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.

Professional Endeavors and Charity Work

Separate from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these ventures, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein controversy than any alteration in status, says one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in royal circles. She has continued bouncing back.

"She's the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," said one monarchy writer.

The Daughters

Princess Beatrice at event
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie pictured at a Coronation Big Lunch in last year

For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.

They continue to be referred to as princesses, which they have been entitled to since their birth.

Additionally there is no change to the royal succession order.

The prince stays eighth position to the crown, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.

But in reality their standing are "distant" and will probably become much further down as years pass.

Coming Opportunities

Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a advisor for the King's Foundation program – commentators also suggest they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this controversy isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to impact them directly in the separate paths they are building for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.

"Their daughters are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their reserve," adds another monarchy writer.

Final Impact

In the end, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the person 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 pomp and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

So to not have these, on a personal level, will really matter.

Gregory Perez
Gregory Perez

A technology and economic development expert based in Guilin, China.