What Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Signifies for Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
The Duke's exit from the final remnants of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's sending ripples through his immediate relatives too.
Fergie's Title Change
His ex-wife has now lost her duchess title and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.
For Ferguson, sixty-six, the transition will be the most visible.
Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York. Currently, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.
"She has lost a certain prestige over this," said one monarchy expert. "She certainly does use the title – including her Twitter bio is @TheDuchessSarah."
But the loss of her title may impact her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own links with the convicted financier.
Last month, several charities removed her as patron after an email from 2011 revealed that she called Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her negative comments of him.
Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy
Away from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.
And these ventures, are more likely to be impacted by the Epstein scandal than any alteration in status, says one royal commentator.
But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She's kept bouncing back.
"She's the ultimate survivor and expert at transforming," commented one royal author.
The Daughters
For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.
They will still be known as royal princesses, which they have been granted since birth.
There is also no modification to the royal succession order.
The prince stays eighth in line to the crown, followed by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.
But in reality their positions are "low down" and will likely become much further down as time goes on.
Future Prospects
The princesses are also currently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – The younger princess was recently named as a mentor for the monarch's charity program – commentators also suggest they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into royal duties.
"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an understanding of the reality that this scandal isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to impact them personally in the independent lives they are building for themselves," explains one royal commentator.
"The princesses are particularly unlucky victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been composed in their reserve," states another royal author.
Final Impact
Ultimately, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most impacted by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.
For someone who consistently enjoyed the trappings of royalty, the pomp and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
Therefore lacking those, on a individual basis, will significantly count.