In a move that underscores how much the royal landscape continues to shift, Prince Andrew has officially given up his Duke of York title — a symbolic but significant step that signals his further retreat from royal life. The announcement, made on October 17 after private discussions with King Charles III and other family members, sparked an immediate wave of speculation.
The Major Question Is: What Happens Now To His Daughters, Princess Beatrice And Princess Eugenie?
As it turns out, not everything is changing. The princesses’ titles remain intact, their positions within the royal family unaltered.
Both women retain the style of “Her Royal Highness Princess,” a birthright as granddaughters of the late Queen Elizabeth II and daughters of a prince.
Unlike their cousin Prince William, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, are not full-time working royals — though they frequently appear at family occasions such as royal weddings and Christmas gatherings at Sandringham.
A Father Steps Back, His Daughters Remain
Prince Andrew’s decision to relinquish his titles came after “in-depth discussions” with King Charles, according to Buckingham Palace.
“In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Andrew said in a statement. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”
He added, “With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
The 65-year-old prince — who had already stepped back from public life in 2019 following scrutiny over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — emphasized that the choice was about protecting the institution. “I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life,” he said, reaffirming his earlier withdrawal from royal duties.
Andrew’s daughters, meanwhile, remain untouched by the changes. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie keep their royal titles and places in the line of succession — ninth and twelfth, respectively.
Their children follow after them: Beatrice’s daughters Sienna and Athena Mapelli Mozzi, and Eugenie’s sons August and Ernest Brooksbank.
Royal observers agree that there is no indication the princesses will be cut off from royal events. “As far as Beatrice and Eugenie go, I think there’s an appreciation that this scandal doesn’t involve them,” said royal commentator Victoria Murphy. “It’s not fair for it to impact them directly in the independent lives they are carving out for themselves.”
The York Women After the Fallout
As for Beatrice and Eugenie, they’ve long struck a careful balance between private careers and royal visibility.
Both women work in the corporate world — Beatrice in finance and technology, Eugenie in art and philanthropy — while still maintaining their royal roles when needed.
Princess Eugenie, for example, was recently announced as a mentor for the King’s Foundation’s 35 Under 35 network.
While their royal titles remain, their future in the monarchy’s inner circle is less certain. Murphy notes, “I can’t see a world in which they would step up into royal duties in any official way. I don’t think that was ever really on the cards.”
Their positions in the line of succession are now more symbolic than influential, especially as the monarchy looks toward a future led by King Charles and Prince William. “Practically, their positions have little meaning for the future,” Murphy added.
Even with their father’s scandal looming in the background, Beatrice and Eugenie have maintained their dignity and silence. “Their daughters are the most unfortunate victims,” said Nicholl. “They’ve had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in that silence.”
A Royal Family Redefined
The fallout from Prince Andrew’s decision is deeply personal. For a man once known for his love of pomp and ceremony, surrendering his titles marks a profound change. “For Andrew, this is deeply humiliating,” one royal insider observed. “The trappings of royalty have always mattered to him.”
Still, the move may bring a degree of closure to years of turmoil — for Andrew, his ex-wife, and their daughters. It’s clear that the York family’s royal chapter is not closing, but it is being rewritten.
And in that evolving story, the women of the family — Sarah, Beatrice, and Eugenie — are proving once again that resilience might just be the most enduring royal trait of all.
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