How Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Means for Fergie, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

Royal Family Figures

Prince Andrew's exit from the final remnants of royal life has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.

Sarah Ferguson'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 visible.

Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," noted one monarchy expert. "She certainly does use the title – even her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the scandal she's dealing with independently about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, several charities dropped her as patron after an email from over a decade ago showed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and seemed to apologise 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 affected by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, notes one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She has continued recovering strongly.

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

The Daughters

Princess Eugenie during occasion
Princess Beatrice and Princess Beatrice seen at a royal celebration in last year

For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.

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

Additionally there is no modification to the royal succession order.

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

But in reality their positions are "distant" and will probably become much further down as time goes on.

Future Prospects

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

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, 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 directly in the separate paths they are building for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.

"The princesses are particularly unlucky victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their reserve," adds another monarchy writer.

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 always liked the trappings of royalty, the pomp and the pageantry, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

Therefore lacking these, on a personal level, will really matter.

Crystal Johnston
Crystal Johnston

A seasoned remote work consultant and productivity expert, passionate about helping professionals excel in flexible work environments.