🔗 Share this article

The Duke's exit from the last vestiges of monarchical duties has not only reshaped his future - it's sending ripples through his immediate relatives too.

Sarah Ferguson's New Status

His ex-wife has now surrendered her ducal status and will now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.

For Sarah, 66, the change will be the most apparent.

Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal post-marital designation Sarah, York Duchess. Now, she reverts to her maiden name of Ferguson.

"She has lost a certain prestige over this," noted one monarchy expert. "She definitely does use the title – even her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the loss of her title may impact her much less than the scandal she's facing separately about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, several charities dropped her as ambassador after correspondence from 2011 showed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her public criticism of him.

Professional Endeavors and Charity Work

Separate from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these, too, are more likely to be affected by the Epstein controversy 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 supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," commented one monarchy writer.

The Daughters

For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.

They will still be referred to as princesses, which they have been granted since their birth.

There is also no change to the line of succession.

Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne, followed by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.

But in reality their positions are "distant" and will likely become even more remote as time goes on.

Future Prospects

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-working royals, and while they do sometimes take on roles – The younger princess was recently named as a advisor for the King's Foundation network – experts also suggest they "can't see a world" in which they would advance into official responsibilities.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the reality that this controversy doesn't involve them, and it's not fair for it to impact them personally in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," says one monarchy analyst.

"Their daughters are most unfortunate victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their silence," adds another monarchy writer.

Final Impact

Ultimately, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most impacted by these developments will be the Duke himself.

For someone who consistently enjoyed the royal privileges, the pomp and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

Therefore lacking these, on a individual basis, will really matter.