How the Duke's Removal of Titles Means for Fergie, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie
Prince Andrew's removal from the final remnants of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's sending ripples through his immediate relatives too.
Sarah Ferguson's Title Change
The former spouse has now lost her duchess title and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.
For Sarah, 66, the transition will be the most apparent.
For all these years, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.
"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," said one monarchy expert. "She definitely utilizes the title – including her social media profile 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 Jeffrey Epstein.
Last month, several charities dropped her as patron after an email from over a decade ago showed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.
Business Ventures and Philanthropy
Separate from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these, too, are more likely to be affected by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, notes one royal commentator.
But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in royal circles. She has continued bouncing back.
"She's the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," commented one royal author.
The Princesses
For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.
They will still be known as princesses, which they have been granted since their birth.
Additionally there is no modification to the line of succession.
Andrew remains eighth position to the throne, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place in that order.
But in practice their positions are "distant" and will probably become much further down as years pass.
Future Prospects
The princesses are also currently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a advisor for the King's Foundation network – commentators also suggest they "can't see a scenario" in which they would advance into royal duties.
"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the reality that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to affect them personally in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.
"The princesses are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to suffer in silence and have been composed in their silence," states another monarchy writer.
Final Impact
In the end, there seems to be little doubt that the person who will be most affected by these developments will be the Duke himself.
For a man who always liked the trappings of royalty, the pomp and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
Therefore lacking those, on a personal level, will really matter.