What the Duke's Removal of Titles Means for Fergie, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
Prince Andrew'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
His ex-wife 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 kept the courtesy royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Now, she returns to her maiden name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," said one royal commentator. "She certainly does use the title – even her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the relinquishment of her status may affect her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own links with the convicted financier.
Last month, several charities removed her as patron after correspondence from over a decade ago revealed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.
Business Ventures and Charity Work
Away from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these, too, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, says one monarchy analyst.
But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She has continued recovering strongly.
"She is the ultimate survivor and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.
The Princesses
For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no official alteration.
They continue to be known as princesses, which they have been granted since their birth.
There is also no change to the line of succession.
The prince stays eighth position to the throne, succeeded by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.
But in reality their standing are "distant" and will likely become much further down as years pass.
Coming Opportunities
Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a mentor for the King's Foundation network – commentators also suggest 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 isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to affect them personally in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," says one royal commentator.
"Their daughters are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their reserve," states another monarchy writer.
Final Impact
In the end, there seems to be little doubt 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.
Therefore lacking these, on a individual basis, will really matter.