How the Duke's Removal of Titles Means for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie

York Family Figures

The Duke's exit from the final remnants of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.

Sarah Ferguson's New Status

The former spouse has now surrendered her ducal status and will simply be known 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 returns to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," said one royal commentator. "She definitely does use the title – including her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Last month, multiple organizations removed her as ambassador after correspondence from 2011 showed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and seemed to apologise for her negative comments of him.

Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy

Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these ventures, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, notes one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in royal circles. She has continued bouncing back.

"She is the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," said one royal author.

The Princesses

Princess Beatrice during occasion
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie pictured at a royal celebration in last year

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

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

Additionally there is no modification to the line of succession.

The prince stays eighth in line to the throne, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place in that order.

But in reality their standing are "distant" and will probably become even more remote as time goes on.

Coming Opportunities

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-working royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a mentor for the King's Foundation network – commentators also say they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would step up into official responsibilities.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to impact them personally in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," explains one royal commentator.

"The princesses are particularly unlucky affected parties, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their reserve," adds another royal author.

Ultimate Consequences

Ultimately, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most impacted by these developments will be the Duke himself.

For someone who consistently enjoyed the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

Therefore lacking those, on a individual basis, will really matter.

Cindy Black
Cindy Black

A seasoned career coach with over a decade of experience in mentoring professionals to achieve their goals.

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