After nearly four decades of being known as the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson has officially lost the royal title that defined her public identity. The change comes after her former husband,

Prince Andrew, agreed to give up his own remaining titles and honours amid continued controversy surrounding his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The decision, made with King Charles’s backing and after discussions with senior royals including Prince William, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward, marks another major step in distancing the monarchy from Andrew’s troubled legacy.

Under the new arrangement, Andrew will give up his Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and his Order of the Garter. He will, however, retain the title of Prince as a son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will keep their royal titles — a decision believed to have been influenced by the Queen before her death.

For Ferguson, the change is more personal. Having received her title only through marriage, she will now be known simply as Sarah Ferguson in any official or public capacity. Her “Duchess of York” title was the last formal connection she had to the Royal Family after her 1996 divorce from Andrew, which also ended her right to be styled as “Her Royal Highness.”

Despite the latest developments, Sarah and Andrew will continue living together at Royal Lodge in Windsor, the sprawling 30-bedroom residence they’ve shared for years. Andrew’s long-term lease on the property, secured through the Crown Estate, remains unaffected.

Palace statement and renewed scrutiny

In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew reiterated his denial of the sexual assault allegations made by the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of abuse connected to Epstein’s trafficking network.

He acknowledged, however, that the ongoing reports about his relationship with Epstein had become a “distraction” from the work of the Royal Family.

Ferguson’s own past ties to Epstein have also resurfaced. A newly uncovered 2011 email revealed she once referred to the financier as a “supreme friend,” sparking backlash and prompting several charities to cut ties with her.

This isn’t Ferguson’s first brush with scandal. Many still remember the infamous 1992 “toe-sucking” photos from her St. Tropez holiday with Texan businessman John Bryan — a moment that became one of the most embarrassing royal scandals of its time.

A Family under pressure

Royal insiders say the King and other senior members felt there was no choice but to act. A steady “drip, drip” of damaging revelations — particularly emails suggesting Andrew maintained contact with Epstein after claiming otherwise — reportedly pushed the situation to breaking point.

While Andrew’s titles aren’t technically revoked (they remain “in abeyance,” or inactive), the effect is the same: he will no longer use or represent them publicly.

The King opted against pursuing a formal act of Parliament to strip the titles, likely to avoid a drawn-out public spectacle.

Giuffre family responds

In a statement released through their lawyer, Virginia Giuffre’s family called Andrew’s move “vindication” for Virginia and other survivors of Epstein’s crimes.

“This decision is a powerful step forward in the fight for accountability,” they said. “Prince Andrew’s actions have long contradicted his claims. The release of emails between him and Epstein — especially one where he wrote ‘we are in this together’ — shows how deep that relationship ran.”

They added that they hope this marks “the end of impunity for the powerful” and a new era of transparency and justice for survivors of abuse.

For Sarah Ferguson, losing the Duchess title is symbolic — a final break from royal life that once brought her both fame and scandal. Still, those close to her say she remains loyal to her ex-husband and intends to stay by his side, even as both navigate life on the outskirts of the royal circle.

After nearly 40 years of being “Fergie, Duchess of York,” she now faces the world simply as Sarah Ferguson — no title, no crown, and perhaps, at last, no illusions about royal redemption. Photo by Queensland State Archives, Wikimedia commons.