🔗 Share this article

Prince Andrew's removal from the final remnants of royal life has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his family too.

Sarah Ferguson's Title Change

His ex-wife has now lost her duchess title and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.

For Ferguson, sixty-six, the change will be the most apparent.

Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she reverts to her maiden name of Ferguson.

"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," noted one royal commentator. "She certainly does use the title – including her social media profile is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the loss of her title may impact her much less than the scandal she's dealing with independently about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, several charities removed her as ambassador after an email from over a decade ago revealed that she called Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.

Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy

Away from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these, too, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, says one royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She has continued bouncing back.

"She's the ultimate survivor and master of reinvention," said one royal author.

The Daughters

For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.

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 throne, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.

But in reality their positions are "low down" and will probably become even more remote as time goes on.

Coming Opportunities

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a mentor for the monarch's charity program – experts also suggest they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would advance into royal duties.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this scandal isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to impact them directly in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.

"Their daughters are most unfortunate victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their reserve," adds another royal author.

Ultimate Consequences

Ultimately, there seems to be little doubt that the person who will be most impacted by all of this will be Prince Andrew himself.

For a man who always liked the trappings of royalty, the pomp and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is profoundly embarrassing.

Therefore lacking these, on a personal level, will really matter.