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The Duke's exit from the final remnants of royal life has not only altered his path - it's sending ripples 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 Ferguson, 66, the change will be the most apparent.

Throughout this period, she has maintained the honorary royal divorcee title Sarah, York Duchess. Now, she returns to her maiden name of Ferguson.

"She has lost a bit of cachet over this," noted one monarchy expert. "She definitely does use the title – including her social media profile is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the relinquishment of her status may affect her much less than the controversy she's facing separately about her own links with the convicted financier.

Last month, multiple organizations dropped her as patron after correspondence from over a decade ago revealed that she referred to Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her public criticism of him.

Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy

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

And these ventures, are more probable to be affected by the Epstein scandal than any change in title, says one monarchy analyst.

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

"She's the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," said one monarchy writer.

The Daughters

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

They will still be referred to 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 daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth position in that order.

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

Future Prospects

The princesses are also presently non-official royals, and while they occasionally take on roles – Princess Eugenie was recently announced as a mentor for the King's Foundation program – commentators also suggest 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 understanding of the reality that this controversy isn't about them, and it's unjust for it to impact them directly in the separate paths they are carving out for themselves," explains one royal commentator.

"Their daughters are most unfortunate affected parties, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their reserve," states another monarchy writer.

Final Impact

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

For someone who always liked the trappings of royalty, the ceremony and the ceremony, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

Therefore lacking those, on a personal level, will really matter.