How Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Means for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie
The Duke's exit from the last vestiges of royal life has not only altered his path - it's sending ripples through his immediate relatives 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 Ferguson, sixty-six, the transition will be the most visible.
Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York. Currently, she returns to her maiden name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," said one monarchy expert. "She certainly does use the title – including her Twitter bio 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 the convicted financier.
Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as ambassador after an email from over a decade ago showed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.
Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy
Separate from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.
And these, too, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any alteration in status, says one monarchy analyst.
But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She has continued bouncing back.
"She's the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," said one royal author.
The Princesses
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 birth.
Additionally there is no change to the line of succession.
Andrew remains eighth in line to the crown, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place respectively.
But in reality their positions are "low down" and will likely become much further down as years pass.
Coming Opportunities
Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the King's Foundation network – commentators also suggest they "don't envision a world" in which they would step up into official responsibilities.
"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this controversy isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to affect them personally in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," explains one royal commentator.
"The princesses are particularly unlucky victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their reserve," adds another royal author.
Final Impact
In the end, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most affected by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.
For a man who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the pomp and the pageantry, the loss of his titles is profoundly embarrassing.
So to not have those, on a individual basis, will significantly count.