The Effects of Prince Andrew’s Royal Withdrawal

Prince Andrew’s exit from royal life has not only altered his destiny but also created a ripple effect within his family.

His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has lost her duchess title and will now simply be referred to as Sarah Ferguson. However, their daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, will retain their princess titles despite the surrounding scandal.

Prince Andrew lost his Duke of York title due to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This raises the question: what does the future look like for the York family women?

Ferguson, 66, will see the most visible changes. For years, she was known as Sarah, Duchess of York, but will now revert to her maiden name. Royal commentator Richard Palmer noted that this will likely impact her, despite the public continuing to refer to her as “Fergie.” He mentioned, “She will have lost a bit of cachet over this.”

Furthermore, Ferguson’s loss of title may be minor compared to the scandal she faces regarding her own ties to Epstein. Recently, several charities distanced themselves from her after an email from 2011 emerged in which she referred to Epstein as her “supreme friend.” Royal commentator Victoria Murphy suggested that this recent controversy is more damaging to her reputation than the loss of her title.

Despite these challenges, Ferguson has shown resilience within royal circles, continuing to support Prince Andrew and living on his Windsor estate. She was even welcomed back into the royal fold for a Christmas gathering at Sandringham, which highlights her ability to rebound.

As for their daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, formal titles remain unchanged, and they will continue to be princesses. However, their future positions in the line of succession are limited, and as non-working royals, their involvement in royal duties is unlikely. They have benefitted from their parents’ connections, but the loss of their father’s dukedom may affect that as well.