How Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Signifies for Fergie, Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
The Duke's exit from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's sending ripples through his family too.
Sarah Ferguson's New Status
The former spouse has now surrendered her ducal status and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.
For Ferguson, 66, the transition will be the most visible.
For all these years, she has maintained the honorary royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Now, she reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.
"She has lost a certain prestige over this," noted one monarchy expert. "She certainly utilizes the title – even her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the relinquishment of her status may affect her much less than the controversy she's dealing with independently about her own links with the convicted financier.
Recently, several charities removed her as patron after correspondence from over a decade ago revealed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism 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 affected by the Epstein controversy than any alteration in status, notes one monarchy analyst.
But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She's kept recovering strongly.
"She is the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," commented one royal author.
The Daughters
For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no official alteration.
They continue to be known as royal princesses, which they have been granted since their birth.
Additionally there is no change to the royal succession order.
Andrew remains eighth position to the crown, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.
But in reality their standing are "low down" and will probably become much further down as years pass.
Future Prospects
Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-official royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – The younger princess was recently announced as a advisor for the monarch's charity network – experts also say they "can't see a scenario" in which they would step up into royal duties.
"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to affect them directly in the independent lives they are building for themselves," says one royal commentator.
"The princesses are most unfortunate victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been composed in their reserve," states another royal author.
Final Impact
In the end, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most impacted by these developments will be the Duke himself.
For a man who always liked the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
Therefore lacking those, on a individual basis, will really matter.