What Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Means for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

York Family Figures

The Duke's exit from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's sending ripples through his immediate relatives too.

Fergie's New Status

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

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

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

"She has lost a certain prestige over this," said one royal commentator. "She certainly does use the title – including her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."

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

Recently, several charities dropped her as patron after an email from over a decade ago revealed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.

Business Ventures and Philanthropy

Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these, too, are more likely to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, says one monarchy analyst.

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

"She is the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," commented one royal author.

The Daughters

Princess Eugenie during occasion
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie pictured at a Coronation Big Lunch 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 princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.

Additionally there is no modification to the line of succession.

Andrew remains eighth position to the throne, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.

But in reality their standing are "low down" and will likely become much further down as years pass.

Future Prospects

The princesses are also presently non-official royals, and while they occasionally accept positions – The younger princess was recently announced as a mentor for the monarch's charity network – experts also say they "don't envision a world" in which they would advance into royal duties.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's unjust for it to affect them directly in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.

"Their daughters are particularly unlucky victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their silence," states another monarchy writer.

Final Impact

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

For someone who consistently enjoyed the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the pageantry, the loss of his titles is profoundly embarrassing.

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

John Barker
John Barker

An experienced digital marketer and e-commerce consultant with a passion for helping businesses thrive online through data-driven strategies.