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The Duke's exit from the final remnants of monarchical duties has not only altered his path - it's sending ripples through his family too.

Sarah Ferguson's New Status

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

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

Throughout this period, she has kept the courtesy royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Currently, she returns to her birth name of Ferguson.

"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," said one monarchy expert. "She certainly does use the title – including her social media profile is @SarahTheDuchess."

But the relinquishment of her status may impact her much less than the scandal she's dealing with independently about her own connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Recently, several charities dropped her as patron after an email from 2011 revealed that she referred to Epstein her "supreme friend" and seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.

Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy

Away from her charitable activities, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these, too, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any change in title, says one royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a remarkable endure in monarchical networks. She has continued bouncing back.

"She is the supreme perseverer and expert at transforming," commented one royal author.

The Princesses

For the couple's two daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, thirty-five, there's no official alteration.

They continue to be referred to as royal princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth.

Additionally there is no modification to the line of succession.

Andrew remains eighth position to the crown, succeeded by his children Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position respectively.

But in reality their positions are "low down" and will probably become much further down as years pass.

Coming Opportunities

Beatrice and Eugenie are also presently non-working royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently named as a advisor for the monarch's charity program – experts also suggest they "can't see a world" in which they would step up into official responsibilities.

"As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there's an understanding of the fact that this scandal isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to impact them personally in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves," says one royal commentator.

"The princesses are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to endure quietly and have been composed in their silence," states another royal author.

Ultimate Consequences

In the end, there seems to be little doubt that the person who will be most affected by these developments will be the Duke himself.

For someone who always liked the royal privileges, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is deeply humiliating.

So to not have those, on a personal level, will really matter.