What Prince Andrew's Removal of Titles Signifies for Fergie, Beatrice and Eugenie
Prince Andrew's removal from the last vestiges of royal life 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 now be referred to as Sarah Ferguson.
For Sarah, sixty-six, the change will be the most visible.
For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, Duchess of York. Currently, she returns to her maiden name of Ferguson.
"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," said one royal commentator. "She certainly utilizes the title – even her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."
But the loss of her title may affect her much less than the controversy she's dealing with independently about her own links with the convicted financier.
Last month, several charities dropped her as ambassador after correspondence from over a decade ago showed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.
Business Ventures and Philanthropy
Separate from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has multiple commercial enterprises.
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 great survivor in royal circles. She has continued recovering strongly.
"She is the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," commented one monarchy writer.
The Princesses
For Andrew and Sarah's offspring, Beatrice, thirty-seven, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.
They continue to be referred to as royal princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.
There is also no change to the line of succession.
The prince stays eighth in line to the crown, succeeded by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.
But in reality their standing are "distant" and will probably become much further down as time goes on.
Future Prospects
Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-official royals, and while they do sometimes accept positions – The younger princess was recently named as a advisor for the monarch's charity network – experts also say they "can't see a world" in which they would step up into royal duties.
"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, 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 personally in the separate paths they are building for themselves," explains one royal commentator.
"Their daughters are most unfortunate victims, they've had to endure quietly and have been dignified in their reserve," states another royal author.
Ultimate Consequences
In the end, there seems to be minimal uncertainty that the individual who will be most affected by these developments will be Prince Andrew himself.
For someone who always liked the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the pageantry, the loss of his titles is profoundly embarrassing.
So to not have those, on a individual basis, will really matter.