How Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Means for Fergie, Beatrice and Eugenie
Prince Andrew's exit from the final remnants of monarchical duties has not only altered his path - it's creating waves through his immediate relatives too.
Fergie's New Status
The former spouse has now surrendered her ducal status and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.
For Sarah, 66, the change will be the most visible.
Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal post-marital designation Sarah, Duchess of York. Currently, she reverts to her maiden name of Ferguson.
"She will have lost a bit of cachet over this," noted one royal commentator. "She certainly utilizes the title – even her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Last month, several charities dropped her as patron after an email from 2011 showed that she called Epstein her "supreme friend" and appeared to express regret for her public criticism of him.
Professional Endeavors and Charity Work
Separate from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.
And these ventures, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, notes one monarchy analyst.
But Ferguson has been a great survivor in monarchical networks. She has continued recovering strongly.
"She's the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.
The Princesses
For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no official alteration.
They will still be known as princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.
There is also no modification to the line of succession.
The prince stays eighth in line to the crown, followed by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.
But in reality their positions are "distant" and will likely become even more remote as years pass.
Future Prospects
Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-working royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – The younger princess was recently named as a advisor for the monarch's charity program – experts also say they "don't envision a world" in which they would advance into royal duties.
"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an appreciation of the fact that this scandal doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to impact them directly in the independent lives they are carving out 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
In the end, there appears to be little doubt that the individual who will be most affected by all of this will be Prince Andrew himself.
For someone who consistently enjoyed the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.
So to not have those, on a individual basis, will really matter.