How the Duke's Titles Loss Signifies for Fergie, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie

Royal Family Figures

Prince Andrew's removal from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his family too.

Fergie's New Status

His ex-wife has now lost her duchess title and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.

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

Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, Duchess of York. Now, she reverts to her maiden name of Ferguson.

"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," said one royal commentator. "She certainly utilizes the title – even her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the loss of her title may impact her much less than the controversy she's dealing with independently about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as ambassador after correspondence from 2011 showed that she called Epstein her "supreme friend" and appeared to express regret for her public criticism of him.

Business Ventures and Philanthropy

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

And these, too, are more probable to be impacted by the Epstein controversy than any alteration in status, notes one royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in royal circles. She has continued recovering strongly.

"She is the ultimate survivor and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.

The Princesses

Princess Eugenie at event
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie pictured at a royal celebration in 2023

For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.

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

There is also no modification to the royal succession order.

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

But in reality their positions are "distant" and will probably become even more remote as time goes on.

Coming Opportunities

Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-working royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a mentor for the monarch's charity program – experts also suggest they "can't see a scenario" in which they would step up into official responsibilities.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this controversy isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to affect them personally in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.

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

Ultimate Consequences

Ultimately, there appears to be little doubt that the individual who will be most affected by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.

For someone who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the ceremony and the pageantry, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

Therefore lacking these, on a individual basis, will significantly count.

Kevin Wagner
Kevin Wagner

An experienced journalist passionate about uncovering stories that matter and sharing them with a global audience.