What the Duke's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie

Royal Family Figures

Prince Andrew's removal from the final remnants of royal life has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.

Fergie's Title Change

The former spouse has now surrendered her ducal status and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.

For Sarah, 66, the transition will be the most visible.

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

"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," noted one royal commentator. "She certainly utilizes the title – including her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the controversy she's dealing with independently about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, multiple organizations removed her as patron after an email from over a decade ago showed 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 philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these ventures, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, notes 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 Daughters

Princess Eugenie during occasion
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie pictured at a Coronation Big Lunch in 2023

For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.

They will still be referred to as royal princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.

There is also no change to the line of succession.

The prince stays eighth in line to the crown, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.

But in practice their positions are "low down" and will likely become much further down as time goes on.

Coming Opportunities

The princesses are also presently non-official royals, and while they occasionally accept positions – The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the King's Foundation program – commentators also suggest they "can't see a scenario" 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 carving out for themselves," says one royal commentator.

"Their daughters are particularly unlucky affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their silence," adds another monarchy writer.

Final Impact

In the end, there appears to be little doubt that the person who will be most impacted by all of this will be the Duke himself.

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

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

Tiffany Wilkins
Tiffany Wilkins

Tech enthusiast and lifestyle blogger with a passion for innovation and storytelling.