How the Duke's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie
The Duke's exit from the last vestiges of royal life has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his family too.
Fergie's New Status
His ex-wife has now lost her duchess title and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.
For Sarah, sixty-six, the transition will be the most visible.
For all these years, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York. Currently, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," noted one monarchy expert. "She certainly does use the title – including her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own connections to the convicted financier.
Last month, multiple organizations removed her as patron after correspondence from over a decade ago showed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her public criticism of him.
Business Ventures and Charity Work
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 royal commentator.
But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She has continued bouncing back.
"She is the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," commented one monarchy writer.
The Princesses
For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no formal change.
They will still be known as princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.
There is also no modification to the royal succession order.
Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.
But in practice their standing are "low down" and will likely become even more remote as time goes on.
Future Prospects
Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – The younger princess was recently named as a advisor for the monarch's charity network – commentators also say they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would advance into royal duties.
"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's unjust for it to affect them personally in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," explains 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 royal author.
Final Impact
Ultimately, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most impacted by these developments will be the Duke himself.
For someone 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 individual basis, will significantly count.