How Prince Andrew's Titles Loss Means for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie
The Duke's removal from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his family too.
Sarah Ferguson's Title Change
His ex-wife has now surrendered her ducal status and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.
For Ferguson, sixty-six, the change will be the most visible.
For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, Duchess of York. Now, she reverts to her maiden name of Ferguson.
"She has lost a certain prestige over this," said one royal commentator. "She certainly utilizes the title – even her social media profile is @TheDuchessSarah."
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 patron after an email from 2011 showed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.
Professional Endeavors and Charity Work
Away from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.
And these, too, are more probable to be impacted by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, says one royal commentator.
But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She has continued bouncing back.
"She is the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," commented one royal author.
The Daughters
For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.
They continue to be known as royal princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.
There is also no change to the line of succession.
Andrew remains 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 "low down" and will probably become much further down as years pass.
Future Prospects
The princesses are also presently non-working royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the King's Foundation program – experts also say they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.
"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to impact 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 suffer in silence and have been composed in their silence," states another monarchy writer.
Final Impact
Ultimately, there seems to be little doubt that the individual who will be most affected by these developments will be the Duke himself.
For a man who consistently enjoyed the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is deeply humiliating.
Therefore lacking these, on a individual basis, will really matter.