What the Duke's Removal of Titles Signifies for Fergie, Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
Prince Andrew's exit from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.
Fergie's Title Change
The former spouse has now lost her duchess title and will simply be known 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 reverts to her birth name of Ferguson.
"She has lost a certain prestige over this," said one royal commentator. "She definitely does use the title – even her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."
But the relinquishment of her status may affect her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own connections to the convicted financier.
Last month, several charities removed her as ambassador after an email from over a decade ago showed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.
Professional Endeavors and Charity Work
Away from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.
And these ventures, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any change in title, says one monarchy analyst.
But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in royal circles. She's kept recovering strongly.
"She's the ultimate survivor and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.
The Daughters
For Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.
They continue to be referred to as royal princesses, which they have been granted since their birth.
Additionally there is no modification to the royal succession order.
The prince stays eighth in line to the throne, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place respectively.
But in practice their standing are "low down" and will probably become even more remote as years pass.
Coming Opportunities
The princesses are also currently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – The younger princess was recently announced as a advisor for the monarch's charity network – commentators also say they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.
"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this controversy isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to affect them directly in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," explains one monarchy analyst.
"The princesses are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to suffer in silence and have been composed in their silence," adds another royal author.
Ultimate Consequences
Ultimately, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most impacted by all of this will be the Duke himself.
For someone who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the pomp and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
Therefore lacking those, on a individual basis, will really matter.