What the Duke's Removal of Titles Signifies for Fergie, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie
Prince Andrew's removal from the last vestiges of royal life has not only reshaped his future - it's sending ripples through his immediate relatives too.
Fergie's New Status
The former spouse has now lost her duchess title and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.
For Ferguson, sixty-six, the change will be the most visible.
For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," said one monarchy expert. "She definitely does use the title – including her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the loss of her title may impact her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own connections to the convicted financier.
Recently, several charities removed her as patron after correspondence from over a decade ago showed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.
Professional Endeavors and Charity Work
Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.
And these ventures, are more likely to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, says one monarchy analyst.
But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She has continued bouncing back.
"She's the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," commented one monarchy writer.
The Princesses
For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.
They will still be known as princesses, which they have been granted since their birth.
There is also no modification to the royal succession order.
The prince stays eighth position to the throne, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.
But in reality their positions are "low down" and will probably become even more remote as time goes on.
Future Prospects
The princesses are also presently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the King's Foundation network – experts also suggest they "can't see a world" in which they would step up into royal duties.
"Regarding 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 separate paths they are carving out for themselves," says one royal commentator.
"The princesses are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their reserve," states another royal author.
Ultimate Consequences
Ultimately, there seems to be little doubt that the individual who will be most impacted by these developments will be the Duke himself.
For a man who always liked the royal privileges, the pomp and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is deeply humiliating.
Therefore lacking those, on a individual basis, will significantly count.