What Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Signifies for Fergie, Beatrice and Princess 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
The former spouse has now lost her duchess title and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.
For Ferguson, sixty-six, the change will be the most apparent.
Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she returns to her maiden name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," said one royal commentator. "She certainly utilizes the title – even her social media profile is @TheDuchessSarah."
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, several charities removed her as patron after correspondence from over a decade ago revealed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.
Professional Endeavors and Charity Work
Away 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 has continued recovering strongly.
"She is the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," said one royal author.
The Daughters
For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no official alteration.
They will still be referred to as royal princesses, which they have been granted since their birth.
Additionally there is no change to the royal succession order.
The prince stays eighth in line to the crown, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place respectively.
But in practice their standing are "distant" and will probably become even more remote as time goes on.
Coming Opportunities
Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the monarch's charity network – experts also say they "don't envision a world" in which they would advance into royal duties.
"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this scandal isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to affect them directly in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.
"The princesses are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their reserve," states another royal author.
Ultimate Consequences
In the end, there appears to be little doubt that the person who will be most impacted by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.
For someone who consistently enjoyed the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.
Therefore lacking those, on a personal level, will significantly count.