What the Duke's Removal of Titles Means for Fergie, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
Prince Andrew's exit from the final remnants of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's creating waves 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 change will be the most visible.
Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal divorcee title 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 utilizes the title – even her Twitter bio is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the relinquishment of her status may affect her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.
Last month, multiple organizations removed her as patron after an email from over a decade ago revealed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.
Professional Endeavors and Charity Work
Away from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these, too, are more likely to be affected by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, says one monarchy analyst.
But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She's kept bouncing back.
"She's the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," said one royal author.
The Princesses
For Andrew and Sarah'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 entitled to since their birth.
There is also no change to the line of succession.
The prince stays eighth in line to the crown, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place respectively.
But in reality their standing are "low down" and will likely become even more remote as time goes on.
Coming Opportunities
Beatrice and Eugenie 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 King's Foundation network – experts also say they "can't see a world" in which they would step up into official responsibilities.
"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the reality that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to impact them directly in the independent lives they are building for themselves," explains one royal commentator.
"Their daughters are most unfortunate victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their reserve," states another royal author.
Ultimate Consequences
Ultimately, there appears to be little doubt 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 pomp and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
So to not have those, on a personal level, will really matter.