How Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Means for Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie
Prince Andrew's removal from the last vestiges of royal life has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his family 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 Ferguson, 66, the transition will be the most visible.
Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York. Now, she reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," said one monarchy expert. "She certainly utilizes the title – even her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the controversy she's dealing with independently about her own connections to the convicted financier.
Recently, several charities removed her as ambassador after correspondence from 2011 revealed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her negative comments of him.
Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy
Away from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these, too, are more probable to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, says one royal commentator.
But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She has continued bouncing back.
"She's the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," commented one royal author.
The Princesses
For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.
They continue to be referred to as royal princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.
Additionally there is no modification to the line of succession.
The prince stays 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 "low down" and will likely become much further down as years pass.
Coming Opportunities
The princesses are also currently non-official royals, and while they occasionally accept positions – The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the monarch's charity program – commentators also say they "don't envision a world" in which they would step up into royal duties.
"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this controversy isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to affect them personally in the independent lives they are building for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.
"The princesses are most unfortunate victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their reserve," states another royal author.
Ultimate Consequences
In the end, there seems to be little doubt that the individual who will be most impacted by these developments will be the Duke himself.
For someone who always liked the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is deeply humiliating.
Therefore lacking those, on a personal level, will significantly count.