How the Duke's Removal of Titles Means for Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie

York Family Members

The Duke's removal from the final remnants of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's sending ripples through his family too.

Fergie's New Status

The former spouse has now surrendered her ducal status and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.

For Sarah, sixty-six, the change 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," noted one monarchy expert. "She definitely does use the title – including her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the loss of her title may affect her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, several charities dropped her as ambassador after an email from 2011 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 ventures, are more likely to be affected by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, notes one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in monarchical networks. She's kept recovering strongly.

"She's the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.

The Daughters

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

For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.

They continue to be known as princesses, which they have been granted since their birth.

There is also no change to the line of succession.

Andrew remains eighth in line to the crown, 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 years pass.

Coming Opportunities

Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a mentor for the monarch's charity network – experts also suggest they "can't see a scenario" in which they would advance into royal duties.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's unjust for it to impact them personally in the separate paths they are building for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.

"Their daughters are particularly unlucky victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their reserve," adds another royal author.

Ultimate Consequences

In the end, there appears to be little doubt that the person who will be most affected by all of this will be the Duke himself.

For a man who always liked the royal privileges, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is deeply humiliating.

Therefore lacking those, on a personal level, will significantly count.

Anna Diaz
Anna Diaz

A passionate software engineer and tech writer with over a decade of experience in web development and AI.