How Prince Andrew's Titles Loss Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie
The Duke's removal from the final remnants 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 lost her duchess title and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.
For Ferguson, sixty-six, the transition will be the most apparent.
Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation 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 utilizes the title – including her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the loss of her title may affect her much less than the controversy she's dealing with independently about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as ambassador after correspondence from over a decade ago revealed 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 likely to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any change in title, notes one royal commentator.
But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She has continued recovering strongly.
"She is the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," commented one monarchy writer.
The Princesses
For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, 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 change to the royal succession order.
The prince stays eighth in line to the throne, followed by his children 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.
Coming Opportunities
The princesses are also currently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a mentor for the monarch's charity network – commentators also say they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would step up into official responsibilities.
"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to affect them directly in the independent lives they are building for themselves," explains one royal commentator.
"Their daughters are particularly unlucky affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their silence," adds another royal author.
Final Impact
In the end, there seems to be little doubt that the individual who will be most affected by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.
For someone who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the ceremony and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.
Therefore lacking those, on a personal level, will really matter.