Why Sarah Ferguson Did Not Lose Her Royal Title
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When Prince Andrew announced he would relinquish his royal titles, attention immediately turned to what that meant for his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. Many wondered: would she lose her title, too? The short answer: no — but there’s nuance.
The Divorce & the Title She Kept
When Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew divorced in 1996, she officially lost the style of “Her Royal Highness” as part of a Letters Patent issued by Queen Elizabeth II that same year. That patent trimmed the privileges of former spouses of royal princes.
However, she retained a courtesy title as “Sarah, Duchess of York.” In British peerage custom, divorced wives of peers can continue using the title, but always preceded by their first name (e.g., Sarah, Duchess of York). This practice is similar to what Diana did after divorcing Prince Charles.
So even before Prince Andrew’s recent move, Sarah had kept a non-royal version of her title — without the HRH styling and without the same official duties or privileges.
Andrew’s Title Change and Ferguson’s Response
In October 2025, Prince Andrew publicly surrendered his use of the Duke of York title and associated honors, citing that ongoing controversies had become a distraction for the royal family.
That raised questions about Sarah’s status. In response, Sarah has confirmed she will no longer use “Duchess of York” as a public or social media title. She has shifted to using her name, Sarah Ferguson, in all professional and public spaces.
Still, this change is more about style and public identity than legal status. The courtesy title had already been severed from any formal royal privileges, and her daughters’ royal titles remain unaffected.
Why She Didn’t Automatically Lose It
Here are the legal and customary reasons Sarah Ferguson did not automatically lose her title:
- Title vs style distinction: The 1996 Letters Patent removed the HRH style (Her Royal Highness), but did not strip divorced peers of using courtesy titles in a modified form.
- New change is voluntary: Sarah’s decision to stop using “Duchess of York” after Andrew’s title renunciation is self-initiated, not forced by law.
- Royal children unaffected: Their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, retain their royal status and royal titles, and their positions in the line of succession remain intact.
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