The Duke’s unexpected move to give up his royal titles reportedly blindsided Beatrice, Eugenie, and even Sarah Ferguson.
Prince Andrew has stunned his family with an unexpected decision to relinquish his royal titles and remaining honours, a move reportedly influenced by King Charles. According to sources, his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, were left “completely blindsided” by the announcement, which was made public on October 17.
The sisters, who were not consulted beforehand, were said to be in the dark about their father’s plans until the news broke. A source close to the York family claimed the revelation “came out of nowhere,” leaving both women shocked and emotional.
Days later, on October 20, Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, and their daughters met at Royal Lodge in Windsor to discuss the fallout. The family gathering was tense, with Fergie particularly distraught. An insider told the Mail that the Duchess of York suffered a “meltdown” upon realising she would lose her title as a result of Andrew’s decision.
Ferguson, who has used the Duchess title since her marriage to Andrew in 1986, was reportedly heartbroken. “She was wailing that he shouldn’t do it,” one source said, adding that the loss carried both emotional and financial consequences for her.
For Beatrice and Eugenie, the shock was compounded by the public attention the announcement brought. “They suddenly found themselves in the middle of a media storm,” said one insider. “But they’re standing by their father and facing the challenges together.”
The emotional scenes at Windsor underscored the strain within the York family as they grappled with the personal and public impact of Andrew’s controversial choice.
