Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, has removed her royal title from her social media profiles, signalling a clear shift in her public identity. The change comes days after her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, announced he would no longer use his Duke of York title or associated honours. The 66-year-old publicly known as “Fergie” updated her X handle from “@SarahTheDuchess” to “@sarahMFergie15” and scrubbed references to “the Duchess of York” from her bios. This move marks a notable departure from the title she has used since her 1986 marriage. The broader action reflects coordinated discussions within the royal family about the use of formal styles and titles.
Main Details
Who: Sarah Ferguson, ex-wife of Prince Andrew, and title-holder of Duchess of York since 1986. She removed or ceased use of the “Duchess of York” style in her social media profiles and public branding. The move follows Prince Andrew’s announcement on 17 October 2025 that he would no longer use his Duke of York title or honours. The announcement by Prince Andrew was made 17 October 2025. The social-media updates by Sarah Ferguson were observed shortly afterwards (reported 21–22 October 2025).
The changes apply to her online presence (X/Twitter and Instagram) and likely her formal style in public listings. Reports note updates to her social handles and the removal of the title from her bios. Prince Andrew cited “continued accusations … distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family” in his statement about relinquishing his titles. Sarah Ferguson’s move is tied to that decision and reflects a shift away from using a courtesy title associated with him.
On X, her handle was changed from @SarahTheDuchess to @sarahMFergie15. Her Instagram handle remains @SarahFerguson15, but the “Duchess of York” style has been removed from her bios. She has also reportedly updated official business registration records.
Quotes & Reactions
While Sarah Ferguson has not released a formal quote about the change, media outlets report the move is “quiet but significant”.
A representative for Prince Andrew said in his statement: “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. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.”
Analysts of royal affairs interpret Sarah Ferguson’s update as part of a “reset” of her public identity, moving away from formal royal styling to her personal brand.
Impact Analysis
For Sarah Ferguson, the removal of the Duchess of York title signals a major branding shift: she is now publicly embracing her name without the royal style. Given the title’s association with her marriage to Prince Andrew and with the royal institution, the change may impact her public engagements, charitable patronages and how she is referenced in media and official listings.
For the broader royal family, the coordinated relinquishment of titles by Prince Andrew — and by extension the removal of styling by Sarah Ferguson — may reflect an effort to streamline or re-define which titles remain actively used outside full-time royal duties. As many royal watchers note, the daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, retain their titles, indicating the change applies primarily to their parents’ conferred styles.
The shift might also influence how media outlets refer to Sarah Ferguson in future articles, how charities assess her patron-role eligibility, and how the public perceives her position within or outside the royal orbit.
What’s Next
Observers will be watching official listings and business registration records (such as Companies House) for further title-removals or updates tied to Sarah Ferguson’s corporate and charity roles.The royal household’s website may continue adjusting references to P rince Andrew and possibly Sarah Ferguson to reflect their changed styles.
Media commentary and royal-watching outlets are expected to cover how Sarah Ferguson repositioning affects her public and philanthropic roles. Additionally, engagement patterns (such as her participation at official royal events) may shift — whether she appears in future family gatherings under a revised style, and how she’s listed in program credits or press materials.
