What the Duke's Titles Loss Means for Fergie, Beatrice and Eugenie

York Family Figures

The Duke's exit from the final remnants of royal life has not only altered his path - it's sending ripples through his family too.

Sarah Ferguson's New Status

His ex-wife has now surrendered her ducal status and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.

For Sarah, sixty-six, the change will be the most visible.

Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," said one royal commentator. "She certainly does use the title – including her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the relinquishment of her status may affect her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, several charities removed 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.

Professional Endeavors and Charity Work

Separate from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.

And these ventures, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, says one royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She's kept recovering strongly.

"She is the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," commented one monarchy writer.

The Daughters

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

For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no official alteration.

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

Additionally there is no change to the line of succession.

The prince stays eighth position to the crown, succeeded by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.

But in reality their standing are "distant" 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 take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a advisor for the King's Foundation program – experts also suggest they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would step up into official responsibilities.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the reality that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's unjust for it to impact them directly in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," explains one royal commentator.

"The princesses are particularly unlucky victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their reserve," adds another royal author.

Final Impact

In the end, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most impacted by all of this will be the Duke himself.

For a man who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

So to not have those, on a individual basis, will significantly count.

Barbara Hill
Barbara Hill

Tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for demystifying complex innovations and sharing practical insights.