Sarah Ferguson made a bold social media move following Prince Andrew’s decision to drop his Duke of York title, citing Epstein controversy

After her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, announced he would no longer use his royal titles, Sarah Ferguson quietly followed suit by removing all references to her Duchess of York title from social media.

The 66-year-old, popularly known as Fergie, previously went by the X handle @SarahTheDuchess, but it now reads @sarahMFergie15. On Instagram, her handle, @SarahFerguson15, remains unchanged, though her bio on both platforms no longer mentions her former royal title, as per Eonline.

Similarly, updates were made to Prince Andrew’s page on the royal family’s official website following his announcement. As of Monday, Oct. 20, references to his Duke of York title were removed from the header, which now identifies him simply as “Prince Andrew.”


However, as of Tuesday, Oct. 21, references to his Duke of York title remained within the biography’s main text, including a line that reads, “The Duke of York's active service with the Royal Navy spanned 22 years until July 2001.”

The page also continues to display the 2022 statement regarding Andrew’s decision to step back from public royal duties and his loss of military affiliations and patronages, though it has not yet been updated to include his recent statement about discontinuing use of his royal title.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s divorce

Queen Elizabeth II granted her second son, Prince Andrew, the title Duke of York upon his marriage to Sarah Ferguson in 1986, making her the Duchess of York. Although the couple announced their separation in 1992 and officially divorced four years later, Sarah retained the duchess title.

Despite their split, Andrew and Sarah have remained on good terms over the years, co-parenting their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and continuing to share a residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

While Sarah Ferguson had continued to use her duchess title in parts of her public life since the divorce, she will now be known simply as Sarah Ferguson, following Prince Andrew’s decision to renounce his own royal titles.

Why Prince Andrew stop using his duke of York title

King Charles III’s youngest brother, Prince Andrew, confirmed on October 17 that he will no longer use his title Duke of York, citing the ongoing controversy surrounding his association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“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 released by Buckingham Palace. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.”