What Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Signifies for Fergie, Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
The Duke's removal from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only altered his path - it's sending ripples through his immediate relatives too.
Fergie's Title Change
His ex-wife has now lost her duchess title and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.
For Sarah, 66, the transition will be the most visible.
Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York. Now, she returns to her maiden name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," said one royal commentator. "She definitely does use the title – even her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Last month, multiple organizations removed her as ambassador after an email from 2011 showed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.
Professional Endeavors and Charity Work
Away from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these ventures, are more probable to be affected 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 recovering strongly.
"She is the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," commented one royal author.
The Daughters
For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.
They continue to be known as princesses, which they have been entitled to since their birth.
There is also no change to the royal succession order.
Andrew remains eighth position to the throne, succeeded by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.
But in practice their positions are "low down" and will probably become much further down as years pass.
Coming Opportunities
Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-official royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – The younger princess was recently announced as a mentor for the monarch's charity network – commentators also suggest they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.
"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this controversy isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to impact 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," adds another royal author.
Final Impact
Ultimately, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most impacted by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.
For a man who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the ceremony and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is deeply humiliating.
Therefore lacking those, on a individual basis, will really matter.