What the Duke's Titles Loss Means for Fergie, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

York Family Members

Prince Andrew's exit from the final remnants of monarchical duties has not only altered his path - it's sending ripples through his immediate relatives too.

Fergie's New Status

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

For Sarah, sixty-six, the transition will be the most apparent.

For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, Duchess of York. Now, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.

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

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

Last month, several charities dropped her as ambassador after an email from 2011 showed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.

Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy

Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.

And these ventures, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any change in title, says one royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She has continued recovering strongly.

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

The Princesses

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

For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no official alteration.

They continue to be referred to as royal 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 crown, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.

But in reality their positions are "distant" and will probably become even more remote as years pass.

Future Prospects

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-official royals, and while they occasionally accept positions – The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the monarch's charity network – experts also suggest they "can't see a world" 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 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 building for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.

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

Final Impact

Ultimately, there seems to be little doubt that the individual who will be most affected by all of this will be the Duke himself.

For a man who consistently enjoyed the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

So to not have those, on a personal level, will significantly count.

Elizabeth Myers
Elizabeth Myers

A certified life coach and mindfulness expert passionate about empowering others through personal development strategies.