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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 family too.

Sarah Ferguson's New Status

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

For Sarah, sixty-six, the change will be the most visible.

For all these years, she has kept the courtesy royal post-marital designation Sarah, Duchess of York. Currently, she returns to her maiden name of Ferguson.

"She will have lost a certain prestige over this," noted one royal commentator. "She definitely does use the title – even her social media profile is @TheDuchessSarah."

But the relinquishment of her status may affect her much less than the controversy she's dealing with independently about her own links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Last month, several charities dropped her as ambassador after correspondence from over a decade ago showed that she called Epstein her "greatest ally" and appeared to express regret for her negative comments of him.

Professional Endeavors and Philanthropy

Separate from her philanthropy, Ferguson also has various business ventures.

And these, too, are more likely to be affected by the Epstein controversy than any alteration in status, says one royal commentator.

But Ferguson has been a great survivor in royal circles. She has continued bouncing back.

"She is the supreme perseverer and master of reinvention," commented one royal author.

The Princesses

For the couple's offspring, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, there's no formal change.

They will still be referred to as princesses, which they have been granted since their birth.

There is also no change to the royal succession order.

The prince stays eighth in line to the throne, succeeded by his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and twelfth place in that order.

But in practice their positions are "distant" and will probably become even more remote as years pass.

Future Prospects

Beatrice and Eugenie are also currently non-working royals, and while they occasionally accept positions – The younger princess was recently named as a advisor for the monarch's charity network – commentators also say they "don't envision a scenario" in which they would advance into royal duties.

"Regarding Beatrice and Eugenie are concerned, I think there's an understanding of the reality that this scandal isn't about them, and it's not fair for it to affect them personally in the independent lives they are building for themselves," explains one royal commentator.

"The princesses are most unfortunate victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their reserve," states another monarchy writer.

Final Impact

Ultimately, there appears to be minimal uncertainty that the person who will be most affected by all of this will be the Duke himself.

For a man who always liked the royal privileges, the pomp and the pageantry, the relinquishment of his honors is profoundly embarrassing.

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