What the Duke's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

Royal Family Figures

The Duke's removal from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves through his family too.

Fergie's New Status

The former spouse has now lost her duchess title and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.

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

For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, Duchess of York. Now, she returns to her maiden name of Ferguson.

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

But the loss of her title may affect her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own links with the convicted financier.

Recently, multiple organizations dropped her as patron after correspondence from 2011 revealed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.

Professional Endeavors and Charity Work

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

And these, too, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any change in title, notes one monarchy analyst.

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in monarchical networks. She's kept recovering strongly.

"She's the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.

The Princesses

Princess Beatrice at event
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice seen at a Coronation Big Lunch in last year

For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.

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

Additionally there is no change to the royal succession order.

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

But in reality their positions are "low down" and will probably become much further down 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 mentor for the King's Foundation program – experts also suggest they "don't envision a world" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this controversy isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to impact them directly in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.

"The princesses are particularly unlucky affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their silence," states another royal author.

Final Impact

In the end, there appears to be little doubt that the individual who will be most impacted by these developments will be the Duke himself.

For a man who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the pomp and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is deeply humiliating.

Therefore lacking these, on a individual basis, will significantly count.

Susan Williamson
Susan Williamson

A tech journalist and innovation strategist with over a decade of experience in the digital industry, passionate about emerging technologies.