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

Royal Family Figures

Prince Andrew's exit from the last vestiges of royal life has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.

Fergie's Title Change

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

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

Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, 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 โ€“ including her social media profile 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 the convicted financier.

Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as ambassador after correspondence from 2011 showed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.

Business Ventures and Charity Work

Away from her charitable activities, 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 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 monarchy writer.

The Daughters

Princess Beatrice at event
Princess Eugenie and Princess Eugenie seen at a Coronation Big Lunch in last year

For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.

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

Additionally there is no modification to the royal succession order.

Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place respectively.

But in practice their positions are "distant" and will likely become much further down as years pass.

Coming Opportunities

Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions โ€“ The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the King's Foundation network โ€“ experts also say they "can't see a scenario" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this scandal 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 monarchy analyst.

"Their daughters are most unfortunate victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their silence," states another monarchy writer.

Ultimate Consequences

In the end, there seems to be little doubt that the person who will be most impacted by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.

For a man who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the pomp and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

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

Patrick Torres
Patrick Torres

A passionate software engineer with over a decade of experience in full-stack development and a love for teaching others.