How Prince Andrew's Titles Loss Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
The Duke's exit from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.
Sarah Ferguson's New Status
His ex-wife has now lost her duchess title and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.
For Sarah, 66, the change will be the most apparent.
For all these years, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.
"She has 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 the convicted financier.
Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as ambassador after correspondence from over a decade ago revealed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her negative comments of him.
Professional Endeavors and Charity Work
Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these ventures, are more likely 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's kept recovering strongly.
"She's the ultimate survivor and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.
The Princesses
For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.
They will still be referred to as royal princesses, which they have been granted since birth.
Additionally there is no modification to the royal succession order.
The prince stays eighth position to the crown, followed by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place in that order.
But in reality their standing are "low down" and will likely become even more remote as time goes on.
Coming Opportunities
The princesses are also currently non-official royals, and while they occasionally accept positions – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a advisor for the King's Foundation program – experts also suggest they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.
"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an understanding of the reality that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's unjust for it to impact them personally in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," says one royal commentator.
"The princesses 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 appears to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most impacted by all of this will be Prince Andrew himself.
For someone who always liked the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
Therefore lacking these, on a personal level, will really matter.