Deconstructing future of the York household following Prince Andrew’s title surrender

As Prince Andrew loses his royal titles, after counsel with King Charles, his future now appears more dull than ever.

Amid the publicly disgraced royal’s ordeal however, another fate hangs in the balance — that of his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, who also connects their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, into the fray of the scandal.

With a few things known for certain while others remain open to speculation at the moment, the York family’s future is one to look out for.

What’s lost and what remains

Along with Andrew’s title as the Duke of York, Sarah Ferguson has also been relinquished of hers as the Duchess of York. While the couple’s daughters will retain their standing as the Princess of York.

Moreover, though their parents additionally lost their HRH titles, Beatrice and Eugenie will continue to hold on to theirs, still known as Her Royal Highnesses. Their positions among the throne’s inheritance will also not be affected.

Sarah Ferguson, no longer the Duchess, decides to ‘stand by’ ex-husband

Despite Fergie’s loss, the royal is sticking by her former husband, sources revealed.

“Sarah will always stand by Andrew, she will always have love for him,” a friend of the royal, who is also a published author, told Page Six. While it was further implied that the latest move does not deter her much, as “it’s always been a courtesy title.”

Though the outlet has also noted, “That said, the title has appeared on the covers of the books Ferguson has written over the years, from children’s stories to romance novels.”

Feelings or fear?

It is crucial to highlight that while Sarah Ferguson has long remained an ally of Prince Andrew despite the couple’s divorce decades ago, still reportedly vowing her love and devotion to him, there could be a hint of foul play lingering around the matter.

Since both of the royals had been acquaintances of the late convict, Jeffrey Epstein, and were forced to commit their loyalty to him time and again, there could be reason to believe that both Sarah and Andrew remain entwined due to their potentially incriminating past.

The former Duchess’ spokesperson, James Henderson, who was part of her team at the time she wrote Epstein an e-mail which was recently leaked, told The Telegraph that she was forced to maintain contact with the influential businessman because of a “chilling” call that he made after the royal had publicly denounced him in March 2011.

“People don’t understand how terrible Epstein was. I can remember everything about that call,” he said. “It was a chilling call and I’m surprised anybody was ever friends with him given the way he talked to me.”

Henderson further recounted the convicted sex offender saying that “he would destroy the York family” in a “a Hannibal Lecter-type voice.”

“It was very cold and calm and really menacing and nasty,” he recalled.

It is also worth noting that Prince Andrew had mentioned in his 2019 BBC interview that he had severed any connection with Jeffrey Epstein in 2010, though a different e-mail leak this year revealed a correspondence between them in 2011.