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

Royal Family Figures

The Duke's removal from the last vestiges of royal life has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his family too.

Fergie's Title Change

His ex-wife has now surrendered her ducal status and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.

For Sarah, 66, the change will be the most visible.

Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she reverts to her maiden 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 @TheDuchessSarah."

But the loss of her title may impact her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, several charities dropped her as patron after correspondence from over a decade ago showed that she called Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her negative comments of him.

Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy

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

And these, too, are more probable to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any change in title, says one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in monarchical networks. She has continued recovering strongly.

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

The Princesses

Princess Beatrice at event
Princess Beatrice and Princess Beatrice pictured at a royal celebration in 2023

For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.

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

Additionally there is no change to the line of succession.

The prince stays eighth position to the crown, succeeded by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.

But in reality their positions are "low down" and will likely become even more remote as years pass.

Future Prospects

Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-official royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – The younger princess was recently named as a advisor for the King's Foundation program – experts also suggest they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would step up into royal duties.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this scandal isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to affect them personally in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.

"The princesses are particularly unlucky affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their reserve," states another royal author.

Final Impact

Ultimately, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most impacted by these developments will be the Duke himself.

For someone who always liked the royal privileges, the pomp and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

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

Taylor Mclaughlin
Taylor Mclaughlin

An experienced journalist with a passion for technology and digital culture, based in Prague.