How Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
The Duke's exit from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his family too.
Sarah Ferguson's New Status
The former spouse has now surrendered her ducal status and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.
For Sarah, 66, the change will be the most apparent.
For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Now, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," said one royal commentator. "She definitely utilizes the title – even her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."
But the loss of her title may impact her much less than the scandal she's dealing with independently about her own links with the convicted financier.
Recently, several charities removed her as patron after correspondence from 2011 showed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her negative comments of him.
Business Ventures and Charity Work
Away from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these ventures, are more likely to be affected by the Epstein scandal than any change in title, notes one royal commentator.
But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She's kept recovering strongly.
"She is the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," said one monarchy writer.
The Daughters
For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, Beatrice, 37, 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 line of succession.
Andrew remains eighth position to the throne, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.
But in practice their positions are "low down" and will probably become even more remote as time goes on.
Coming Opportunities
The princesses are also currently non-working royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – The younger princess was recently announced as a mentor for the King's Foundation program – commentators 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," explains one monarchy analyst.
"The princesses are particularly unlucky affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their silence," adds another royal author.
Ultimate Consequences
Ultimately, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most impacted by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.
For a man who always liked the royal privileges, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
So to not have those, on a personal level, will significantly count.