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

Royal Family Figures

The Duke's removal from the final remnants of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.

Fergie's New Status

The former spouse has now lost her duchess title and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.

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

For all these years, she has maintained the honorary royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she returns to her maiden name of Ferguson.

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

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

Last month, several charities removed her as ambassador after an email from 2011 revealed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her public criticism of him.

Business Ventures and Philanthropy

Away from her charitable activities, 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 royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She's kept bouncing back.

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

The Daughters

Princess Eugenie during occasion
Princess Beatrice and Princess Beatrice pictured at a royal celebration in 2023

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

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

Additionally there is no change to the line of succession.

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

But in practice their positions are "low down" and will likely become much further down as time goes on.

Coming Opportunities

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a mentor for the King's Foundation program – experts also say they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would advance into royal duties.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to affect them directly in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one royal commentator.

"Their daughters are most unfortunate victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their silence," adds another royal author.

Final Impact

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

For a man who consistently enjoyed the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

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

Caroline York
Caroline York

A seasoned deal hunter and financial blogger passionate about helping others save money and make smart purchasing decisions.