Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Encyclopedia
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO (Andrew Albert Christian Edward; born 19 February 1960), is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
. At the time of his birth, he was second in the line of succession to the thrones of seven independent sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realm
s; however, after the births of two children to his elder brother
, and an evolution of the Commonwealth
, Prince Andrew is currently fourth in line to the thrones of 16 countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
He also holds the actual rank of Commander
and the honorary rank of Rear Admiral
in the Royal Navy
, in which he served as an active duty helicopter pilot and later instructor in helicopter flight. He saw active service during the Falklands War
, flying on multiple missions including anti-surface warfare
, Exocet missile decoy and casualty evacuation.
In 1986, Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson
; the couple's marriage, subsequent separation and eventual divorce in 1996 attracted a high level of media coverage. As well as carrying out various royal duties, he served as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment
until July 2011.
on 19 February 1960, the third child and second son of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh
, and third grandchild of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Baptised in the Palace's Music Room on 8 April 1960, by then Archbishop of Canterbury
, Geoffrey Fisher
, the Prince's godparents were: The Duke of Gloucester
(his maternal granduncle); Princess Alexandra of Kent
(his 1st cousin once removed); the Earl of Euston
; the Lord Elphinstone
(his 1st cousin once removed); and Mrs Harold Phillips
, and he was named after his paternal grandfather, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark
.
Prince Andrew was the first child born to a reigning British or Commonwealth realms monarch since Queen Victoria's youngest child, Princess Beatrice
, was born in 1857 (incidentally Andrew also named his eldest daughter Beatrice
). As the child of the sovereign, Prince Andrew was styled from birth as His Royal Highness and held the title The Prince Andrew.
As with his older siblings, a governess
was appointed to look after the Prince and was responsible for his early education at Buckingham Palace. Prince Andrew was then sent to Heatherdown Preparatory School
before attending, in September 1973, Gordonstoun
, in northern Scotland
, as his father and elder brother had done before him. While there, Prince Andrew spent six months from January to June 1977 participating in an exchange programme to Lakefield College School
in Lakefield, Ontario, and graduated in July two years later with A-Levels in English, history, economics, and political science. Prince Andrew eschewed university, however, choosing instead to enter the Britannia Royal Naval College
at Dartmouth
.
the following year, and in December he underwent various sporting tests and examinations at the Aircrew Selection Centre
, at RAF Biggin Hill
, along with further tests and interviews at HMS Daedalus, and interviews at the Admiralty Interview Board
, HMS Sultan. During March and April 1979, the Prince was enrolled at the Royal Naval College Flight, undergoing pilot training, until he was accepted as a trainee helicopter pilot and signed on for 12 years from 11 May 1979. On 1 September of the same year, Prince Andrew was appointed as a Midshipman
, and entered Britannia Royal Naval College
, Dartmouth. During 1980 he also took the Royal Marines
Green Beret commando course
.
After passing out from Dartmouth, the Prince went on to elementary flying training with the Royal Air Force
at RAF Leeming
, and later, basic flying training with the Navy at HMS Seahawk, where he learned to fly the Gazelle
helicopter. After being awarded his "Wings", he moved onto more advanced training on the Sea King
helicopter, and conducted operational flying training until 1982, when he joined his first front-line unit, 820 Naval Air Squadron, serving aboard the aircraft carrier
, HMS Invincible
.
, considered by the United Kingdom as a British overseas territory
and claimed by Argentina, were invaded
by Argentina on 2 April 1982, an event that instigated the Falklands War
. Invincible was one of the two operational aircraft carriers available at the time, and, as such, was to play a major role in the Royal Navy task force
assembled to sail south to retake the islands. However, Prince Andrew's place on board and the possibility of The Queen's son being killed in action made the British Government apprehensive, and the Cabinet desired that Prince Andrew be moved to a desk job for the duration of the conflict. The Queen, though, insisted that her son be allowed to remain with his ship, meaning Prince Andrew remained on board Invincible to serve as a Sea King helicopter co-pilot, flying on missions that included anti-submarine warfare
and anti-surface warfare
, Exocet missile decoy, casualty evacuation, transport, and search and air rescue. There, he witnessed the Argentinian attack on the civilian container ship, SS "Atlantic Conveyor", and was one of the first to take off survivors.
At the cessation of the war, Invincible returned to Portsmouth
, where The Queen and Prince Philip joined other families of the crew in welcoming the vessel home, after which Prince Andrew laid a wreath at the Cenotaph each year on Remembrance Sunday to commemorate the South Atlantic campaign. Though he had brief assignments to HMS Illustrious
, RNAS Culdrose, and the Joint Services School of Intelligence
, Prince Andrew remained with Invincible until 1983. In Commander Nigel Ward
's book, Sea Harrier Over the Falklands, Prince Andrew was described as "an excellent pilot and a very promising officer". He was decorated for his service in the Falklands.
, was trained to fly the Lynx
helicopter, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 February 1984, whereupon the Queen appointed him as her personal aide-de-Camp
. Prince Andrew then went on to serve aboard HMS Brazen
as a flight pilot until 1986, including deployment to the Mediterranean Sea
as part of Standing NRF Maritime Group 2
, and undertook the Lieutenants' Greenwich
Staff course. On 23 October 1986, the Duke of York (as he was by then) transferred to the General List, enrolled in a four-month helicopter warfare instructor's course at RNAS Yeovilton, and, upon graduation, served from February 1987 to April 1988 as a helicopter warfare officer in 702 Naval Air Squadron
, RNAS Portland, as well as on HMS Edinburgh
as an Officer of the Watch
and Assistant Navigating Officer until 1989, including a six-month deployment as part of exercise Outback 88 to the Far East.
The Duke of York served as flight commander and pilot of the Lynx HAS3 on HMS Campbeltown
from 1989 to 1991, during which he also acted as Force Aviation Officer to Standing NRF Maritime Group 1
while the Campbeltown was flagship of the NATO force in the North Atlantic
from 1990 to 1991. He then passed the squadron command examination on 16 July 1991, attended the Staff College, Camberley
, the following year, and completed the Army Staff course, becoming a Lieutenant-Commander on 1 February and passing the ship command examination on 12 March 1992. From 1993 to 1994, Prince Andrew commanded the Hunt-class minehunter HMS Cottesmore
.
From 1995 to 1996, the Duke was posted as Senior Pilot of 815 Naval Air Squadron
then the largest flying unit in the Fleet Air Arm
his main role in that position being to supervise flying standards and to guarantee an effective operational capability. He was then made a Commander on 27 April 1999, and went on to finish his active naval career at the British Ministry of Defence
until 2001, as an officer of the Diplomatic Directorate of the Naval Staff. In July of that year, the Duke of York was retired from the Active List of the Navy, and, three years later, was made an Honorary Captain
, rather than the substantive rank of Captain, as would be customary. On 19 February 2010, his 50th birthday, he was promoted to Honorary Rear Admiral
.
at Westminster Abbey
on 23 July 1986, the same day The Queen created him Duke of York
, Earl of Inverness
, and Baron Killyleagh all titles previously held by both his maternal great-grandfather
and grandfather
. Prince Andrew had known Miss Ferguson since childhood, and they had met occasionally at polo
matches, and became re-acquainted with each other at Royal Ascot in 1985.
The couple appeared to have a happy marriage, producing two daughters, and presenting a united outward appearance during the late 1980s; the Duchess was seen as refreshing in the context of the formal protocol surrounding the Royal Family. However, the Duke of York's frequent travel due to his military career, as well as relentless, often critical, media attention focused on the Duchess of York
, led to fractures in the marriage. On 19 March 1992 the couple announced plans to separate and did so in an amicable way. Some months later, pictures appeared in the tabloid
media of the Duchess in intimate association with her financial advisor at the time, John Bryan, which effectively ended any hopes of a reconciliation between the Duke and Duchess. Thereafter, the marriage was ended in divorce on 30 May 1996, though the split was friendly, and the Duke of York spoke fondly of his ex-wife: "We have managed to work together to bring our children up in a way that few others have been able to and I am extremely grateful to be able to do that." It was stipulated that the custody of the two Princesses would be shared between their parents, and the Duchess even continued to live at the Duke's home, Sunninghill Park
, until 2004, when he moved to the Royal Lodge
. In 2003, Richard Kay, in his first gossip column for the Daily Mail, asserted that the Duke was about to marry the businesswoman Amanda Staveley
. She was, however, subsequently quoted in the Sunday Telegraph saying "I will not be marrying Andrew now or in the future." In 2007, Sarah, Duchess of York
purchased Dolphin House, a mansion directly beside the Royal Lodge. In 2008, a fire at Dolphin House resulted in Sarah moving into the Royal Lodge, again sharing a home with the Duke of York.
In May 2010, Sarah, Duchess of York
was filmed by a News of the World
reporter claiming that the Duke of York had agreed that if she were to receive £500,000, he, the Prince, would meet the donor and pass on useful top level business contacts. She was filmed receiving, in cash, $40,000 as a down payment. The Duke's entourage denied he knew of the situation.
Currently, The Duke of York works with UK Trade & Investment
, part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
, as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. His suitability for this role was challenged in the House of Commons by Shadow Justice Minister Chris Bryant
in February 2011, at the time of the 2011 Libyan civil war
, on the grounds that he was ‘not only a very close friend of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, but also… a close friend of the convicted Libyan gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni’. It was from The Duke of Kent
that the Duke took over in this position, which involves him representing and promoting the UK at various trade fairs and conferences all around the world. Prince Andrew was also a member of the Scout Association
.
The Duke of York also tours Canada frequently to undertake duties related to his military role there. Rick Peters, the former Commanding Officer of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
stated: "[Prince Andrew]'s very well informed on Canadian military methods."
The Duke is Patron of The Middle East Association (MEA), the UK’s premier organisation for promoting trade and good relations with the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Iran. He is also Patron of Fight for Sight (U.K.)
, a charity dedicated to research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease
The Duke of York receives a £249,000 annuity from the Queen. The Sunday Times reported in July 2008, that for "the Duke of York's public role,... he last year received £436,000 to cover his expenses."
More recently, on 8 March 2011, The Daily Telegraph
reported:
that the Duke had been reported on by Tatiana Gfoeller
, the United States Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan
, discussing bribery in Kyrgystan and the investigation into the Al-Yamamah arms deal.
The dispatch continued: "His mother's subjects seated around the table roared their approval. He then went on to 'these (expletive) journalists, especially from the National Guardian
[sic], who poke their noses everywhere' and (presumably) make it harder for British businessmen to do business. The crowd practically clapped!"
While these revelations were not shocking, they do complement earlier revelations mentioned in the same article. Earlier in 2010 it was revealed that the Kazakhstan President's billionaire son-in-law Timur Kulibayev
paid the Duke of York's representatives £15m – £3m over the asking price – via offshore companies, for the Duke's Surrey
mansion, Sunninghill Park
, with undue ease.
Mention of the Duke's connection frequently appears in US dispatches as one of the men who has accumulated millions in gas-rich Kazakhstan.
, a man who is a convicted sex offender in the State of Florida for soliciting an underage girl for prostitution, was producing "a steady stream of criticism". The BBC
reported:
, the maritime livery company of the City of London. In recent years, he has developed strong links with Kazakhstan and is a regular goose hunting companion of the country's President Nursultan Nazarbayev
. He is a supporter of Norwich City Football Club
.
The Duke's style and title in full is His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Canadian Forces Decoration, Aide-de-Camp
to Her Majesty. For May 2007 only, Andrew became entitled to be called (albeit academically) His Grace The Lord High Commissioner
to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
.
Decorations Canadian Forces Decoration
(CD) 2001
Medals
Foreign orders 1988: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav 2010: Order of the Federation (UAE)
Medal Ribbons worn in the UK Order of Wear;
Canada Canada Colonel-in-Chief
of the Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
Colonel-in-Chief of the Princess Louise Fusiliers
Colonel-in-Chief
of the Canadian Airborne Regiment
(disbanded)
New Zealand New Zealand Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment
United Kingdom Colonel-in-Chief of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's)
Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment) Colonel-in-Chief of the Small Arms School Corps
Colonel-in-Chief of the Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)
Royal Colonel
of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland Honorary Air Commodore
of the Royal Air Force Lossiemouth
. Commodore-in-Chief
of the Fleet Air Arm
Admiral of the ea cadet sea cadet corps
in England and Wales
and in Northern Ireland
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
. At the time of his birth, he was second in the line of succession to the thrones of seven independent sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realm
Commonwealth Realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 134 million, of which all, except about two million, live in the six...
s; however, after the births of two children to his elder brother
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, and an evolution of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, Prince Andrew is currently fourth in line to the thrones of 16 countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
He also holds the actual rank of Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
and the honorary rank of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, in which he served as an active duty helicopter pilot and later instructor in helicopter flight. He saw active service during the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, flying on multiple missions including anti-surface warfare
Anti-Surface Warfare
Anti-surface warfare is a type of naval warfare directed against surface combatants. More generally, it is any weapons, sensors, or operations intended to attack or limit the effectiveness of an adversary's surface ships....
, Exocet missile decoy and casualty evacuation.
In 1986, Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson
Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
; the couple's marriage, subsequent separation and eventual divorce in 1996 attracted a high level of media coverage. As well as carrying out various royal duties, he served as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment
Special Representative for International Trade and Investment
The Special Representative for International Trade and Investment is a member of the British Royal Family who represents the Sovereign for UK Trade & Investment which reports jointly to the Foreign Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills – his role involves representing the...
until July 2011.
Early life and education
Prince Andrew was born in the Belgian Suite of Buckingham PalaceBuckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
on 19 February 1960, the third child and second son of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
, and third grandchild of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Baptised in the Palace's Music Room on 8 April 1960, by then Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, Geoffrey Fisher
Geoffrey Fisher
Geoffrey Francis Fisher, Baron Fisher of Lambeth, GCVO, PC was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1945 to 1961.-Background:...
, the Prince's godparents were: The Duke of Gloucester
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester was a soldier and member of the British Royal Family, the third son of George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary....
(his maternal granduncle); Princess Alexandra of Kent
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy is the youngest granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck. She is the widow of Sir Angus Ogilvy...
(his 1st cousin once removed); the Earl of Euston
Hugh FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton
Hugh Denis Charles FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton, was the son of Charles FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton, and his first wife Lady Doreen Maria Josepha Sydney Buxton, second daughter of Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton. He was known until 1970 as the Earl of Euston.-Biography:He was born in 1919 in...
; the Lord Elphinstone
Lord Elphinstone
Lord Elphinstone, of Elphinstone in the County of Stirling, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1510 for Alexander Elphinstone who was killed at the Battle of Flodden three years later. He was succeeded by his son, the second Lord, killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547....
(his 1st cousin once removed); and Mrs Harold Phillips
Georgina Kennard
Georgina Kennard, Lady Kennard , was the mother of Alexandra Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn, and Natalia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster...
, and he was named after his paternal grandfather, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark
Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark
Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, was the seventh child and fourth son of King George I of Greece and Olga Constantinovna of Russia. He was a grandson of Christian IX of Denmark.He began military training at an early age, and was...
.
Prince Andrew was the first child born to a reigning British or Commonwealth realms monarch since Queen Victoria's youngest child, Princess Beatrice
Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom
The Princess Beatrice was a member of the British Royal Family. She was the fifth daughter and youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Juan Carlos, King of Spain, is her great-grandson...
, was born in 1857 (incidentally Andrew also named his eldest daughter Beatrice
Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Beatrice of York is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York...
). As the child of the sovereign, Prince Andrew was styled from birth as His Royal Highness and held the title The Prince Andrew.
As with his older siblings, a governess
Governess
A governess is a girl or woman employed to teach and train children in a private household. In contrast to a nanny or a babysitter, she concentrates on teaching children, not on meeting their physical needs...
was appointed to look after the Prince and was responsible for his early education at Buckingham Palace. Prince Andrew was then sent to Heatherdown Preparatory School
Heatherdown Preparatory School
Heatherdown Preparatory School was an independent junior school for boys in the civil parish of Winkfield, near Ascot, in the English county of Berkshire. It closed in 1982...
before attending, in September 1973, Gordonstoun
Gordonstoun
Gordonstoun School is a co-educational independent school for boarding and day pupils in Moray in North East Scotland. Named after the estate originally owned by Sir Robert Gordon in the 1600s, the school now uses this estate as its campus...
, in northern Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, as his father and elder brother had done before him. While there, Prince Andrew spent six months from January to June 1977 participating in an exchange programme to Lakefield College School
Lakefield College School
Lakefield College School is a coeducational boarding school located north of the village of Lakefield, Ontario, Canada.The school's motto is Mens Sana In Corpore Sano...
in Lakefield, Ontario, and graduated in July two years later with A-Levels in English, history, economics, and political science. Prince Andrew eschewed university, however, choosing instead to enter the Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
at Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...
.
Royal Navy
It was in November 1978 that Prince Andrew would join the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
the following year, and in December he underwent various sporting tests and examinations at the Aircrew Selection Centre
Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre
The Royal Air Force Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre, located at Adastral Hall, RAF Cranwell, is the centre through which every potential RAF officer must go to be selected for Initial Officer Training . The Selection Centre is attached to 2 large hangars, plus the Candidates Mess. The centre...
, at RAF Biggin Hill
London Biggin Hill Airport
London Biggin Hill Airport is an airport at Biggin Hill in the London Borough of Bromley, located south southeast of Central London, United Kingdom...
, along with further tests and interviews at HMS Daedalus, and interviews at the Admiralty Interview Board
Admiralty Interview Board
The Admiralty Interview Board is the instrument of Officer selection for the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary...
, HMS Sultan. During March and April 1979, the Prince was enrolled at the Royal Naval College Flight, undergoing pilot training, until he was accepted as a trainee helicopter pilot and signed on for 12 years from 11 May 1979. On 1 September of the same year, Prince Andrew was appointed as a Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
, and entered Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
, Dartmouth. During 1980 he also took the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
Green Beret commando course
All Arms Commando Course
The All Arms Commando Course lasts for 9 weeks and is run by the Royal Marines at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines , Lympstone. Members from any of the United Kingdom's Regular Armed Forces and overseas exchange personnel can attend in order to serve with 3 Commando Brigade...
.
After passing out from Dartmouth, the Prince went on to elementary flying training with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
at RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, UK.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming. The Station Commander is Group Captain Anthony Innes....
, and later, basic flying training with the Navy at HMS Seahawk, where he learned to fly the Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
helicopter. After being awarded his "Wings", he moved onto more advanced training on the Sea King
Westland Sea King
The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines , British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...
helicopter, and conducted operational flying training until 1982, when he joined his first front-line unit, 820 Naval Air Squadron, serving aboard the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, HMS Invincible
HMS Invincible (R05)
HMS Invincible was a British light aircraft carrier, the lead ship of three in her class in the Royal Navy. She was launched on 3 May 1977 and is the seventh ship to carry the name. She saw action in the Falklands War when she was deployed with , she took over as flagship of the British fleet when...
.
Falklands War
The disputed territories of the Falkland IslandsFalkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
, considered by the United Kingdom as a British overseas territory
British overseas territories
The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories of the United Kingdom which, although they do not form part of the United Kingdom itself, fall under its jurisdiction. They are remnants of the British Empire that have not acquired independence or have voted to remain British territories...
and claimed by Argentina, were invaded
1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands
On 2 April 1982, Argentine forces mounted amphibious landings of the Falkland Islands . The invasion involved an initial defence force organised by the Falkland Islands' Governor Sir Rex Hunt giving command to Major Mike Norman of the Royal Marines, the landing of Lieutenant-Commander Guillermo...
by Argentina on 2 April 1982, an event that instigated the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. Invincible was one of the two operational aircraft carriers available at the time, and, as such, was to play a major role in the Royal Navy task force
British naval forces in the Falklands War
This is a list of the naval forces from the United Kingdom that took part in the Falklands War. For a list of naval forces from Argentina, see Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War.-Royal Navy:CommandIn Northwood, London:...
assembled to sail south to retake the islands. However, Prince Andrew's place on board and the possibility of The Queen's son being killed in action made the British Government apprehensive, and the Cabinet desired that Prince Andrew be moved to a desk job for the duration of the conflict. The Queen, though, insisted that her son be allowed to remain with his ship, meaning Prince Andrew remained on board Invincible to serve as a Sea King helicopter co-pilot, flying on missions that included anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
and anti-surface warfare
Anti-Surface Warfare
Anti-surface warfare is a type of naval warfare directed against surface combatants. More generally, it is any weapons, sensors, or operations intended to attack or limit the effectiveness of an adversary's surface ships....
, Exocet missile decoy, casualty evacuation, transport, and search and air rescue. There, he witnessed the Argentinian attack on the civilian container ship, SS "Atlantic Conveyor", and was one of the first to take off survivors.
At the cessation of the war, Invincible returned to Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, where The Queen and Prince Philip joined other families of the crew in welcoming the vessel home, after which Prince Andrew laid a wreath at the Cenotaph each year on Remembrance Sunday to commemorate the South Atlantic campaign. Though he had brief assignments to HMS Illustrious
HMS Illustrious (R06)
HMS Illustrious is the second of three Invincible-class light aircraft carriers built for the Royal Navy in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She is the fifth warship and second aircraft carrier to bear the name Illustrious, and is affectionately known as "Lusty" to her crew...
, RNAS Culdrose, and the Joint Services School of Intelligence
Joint Services School of Intelligence
The Joint Services School of Intelligence was the training centre for the Intelligence Corps of the British Army based at Templer Barracks in Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom. The school provided training to all elements of the British Armed Forces, civilian authorities and international partners...
, Prince Andrew remained with Invincible until 1983. In Commander Nigel Ward
Nigel Ward
Commander Nigel "Sharkey" Ward DSC, AFC, RN commanded 801 Naval Air Squadron from HMS Invincible during the Falklands War, of April to June 1982, and was the senior Sea Harrier adviser to the Command on the tactics, direction and progress of the air war....
's book, Sea Harrier Over the Falklands, Prince Andrew was described as "an excellent pilot and a very promising officer". He was decorated for his service in the Falklands.
Career naval officer
In late 1983, Prince Andrew transferred to RNAS PortlandRNAS Portland
RNAS Portland was an air station of the Royal Navy from 1917.The site was first built in 1917 as HMS Sarepta within the confines of Portland Harbour as a seaplane base; the aircraft operating from the base's slipways. In 1919 No...
, was trained to fly the Lynx
Westland Lynx
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
helicopter, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 February 1984, whereupon the Queen appointed him as her personal aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
. Prince Andrew then went on to serve aboard HMS Brazen
HMS Brazen (F91)
HMS Brazen was a Type 22 frigate of the Royal Navy. She was completed three months ahead of schedule due to the Falklands War. It was purchased from the United Kingdom by the Brazilian Navy on 18 November 1994, and renamed Bosísio...
as a flight pilot until 1986, including deployment to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
as part of Standing NRF Maritime Group 2
Standing NRF Maritime Group 2
Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation standing maritime Immediate Reaction Forces. Prior to 1 January 2005 it was known as Standing Naval Force Mediterranean .SNMG2 is a multinational, integrated maritime force - made up of vessels from various allied nations,...
, and undertook the Lieutenants' Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
Staff course. On 23 October 1986, the Duke of York (as he was by then) transferred to the General List, enrolled in a four-month helicopter warfare instructor's course at RNAS Yeovilton, and, upon graduation, served from February 1987 to April 1988 as a helicopter warfare officer in 702 Naval Air Squadron
702 Naval Air Squadron
702 Naval Air Squadron is a naval squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It is currently based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. It is also the parent unit of the Royal Navy's Black Cats aerobatic Display Team.-Formation and WWII :...
, RNAS Portland, as well as on HMS Edinburgh
HMS Edinburgh (D97)
HMS Edinburgh is a Type 42 destroyer of the Royal Navy. Edinburgh was built by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead. She was launched on 14 April 1983 and commissioned on the 17 December 1985...
as an Officer of the Watch
Watchstanding
Watchstanding, or watchkeeping, in nautical terms concerns the division of qualified personnel to operate a ship continuously around the clock. On a typical sea going vessel, be it naval or merchant, personnel keep watch on the bridge and over the running machinery...
and Assistant Navigating Officer until 1989, including a six-month deployment as part of exercise Outback 88 to the Far East.
The Duke of York served as flight commander and pilot of the Lynx HAS3 on HMS Campbeltown
HMS Campbeltown (F86)
HMS Campbeltown was a Batch 3 Type 22 frigate of the British Royal Navy. Built by Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Ltd. in Birkenhead, she was part of the third batch of Type 22s, which were considerably larger than their predecessors and incorporated more advanced weaponry after lessons learnt from the...
from 1989 to 1991, during which he also acted as Force Aviation Officer to Standing NRF Maritime Group 1
Standing NRF Maritime Group 1
Standing NATO Maritime Group One is one of NATO's standing maritime Immediate Reaction Forces. Prior to 1 January 2005 it was known as Standing Naval Force Atlantic...
while the Campbeltown was flagship of the NATO force in the North Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
from 1990 to 1991. He then passed the squadron command examination on 16 July 1991, attended the Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
, the following year, and completed the Army Staff course, becoming a Lieutenant-Commander on 1 February and passing the ship command examination on 12 March 1992. From 1993 to 1994, Prince Andrew commanded the Hunt-class minehunter HMS Cottesmore
HMS Cottesmore (M32)
HMS Cottesmore was a Hunt-class mine countermeasure vessel of the British Royal Navy, launched in 1982 and converted in 1997 into a patrol vessel. The ship was declared surplus to requirement and put on the MoD list for disposal in 2004...
.
From 1995 to 1996, the Duke was posted as Senior Pilot of 815 Naval Air Squadron
815 Naval Air Squadron
815 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm, part of the Royal Navy. The squadron is currently based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, United Kingdom and it is the Navy's front line Lynx Naval Air Squadron. It currently comprises more than 30 Lynx helicopters of various types...
then the largest flying unit in the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
his main role in that position being to supervise flying standards and to guarantee an effective operational capability. He was then made a Commander on 27 April 1999, and went on to finish his active naval career at the British Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
until 2001, as an officer of the Diplomatic Directorate of the Naval Staff. In July of that year, the Duke of York was retired from the Active List of the Navy, and, three years later, was made an Honorary Captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
, rather than the substantive rank of Captain, as would be customary. On 19 February 2010, his 50th birthday, he was promoted to Honorary Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)
Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....
.
Marriage and divorce
Prince Andrew married Sarah FergusonSarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
on 23 July 1986, the same day The Queen created him Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
, Earl of Inverness
Earl of Inverness
The title of Earl of Inverness was first created in 1718 in the Jacobite Peerage of Scotland by James Francis Edward Stuart for the Honourable John Hay of Cromlix, third son of the 7th Earl of Kinnoull, but became extinct upon the death of the grantee in 1740.It has been created several times in ...
, and Baron Killyleagh all titles previously held by both his maternal great-grandfather
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and grandfather
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
. Prince Andrew had known Miss Ferguson since childhood, and they had met occasionally at polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
matches, and became re-acquainted with each other at Royal Ascot in 1985.
The couple appeared to have a happy marriage, producing two daughters, and presenting a united outward appearance during the late 1980s; the Duchess was seen as refreshing in the context of the formal protocol surrounding the Royal Family. However, the Duke of York's frequent travel due to his military career, as well as relentless, often critical, media attention focused on the Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
, led to fractures in the marriage. On 19 March 1992 the couple announced plans to separate and did so in an amicable way. Some months later, pictures appeared in the tabloid
Tabloid journalism
Tabloid journalism tends to emphasize topics such as sensational crime stories, astrology, gossip columns about the personal lives of celebrities and sports stars, and junk food news...
media of the Duchess in intimate association with her financial advisor at the time, John Bryan, which effectively ended any hopes of a reconciliation between the Duke and Duchess. Thereafter, the marriage was ended in divorce on 30 May 1996, though the split was friendly, and the Duke of York spoke fondly of his ex-wife: "We have managed to work together to bring our children up in a way that few others have been able to and I am extremely grateful to be able to do that." It was stipulated that the custody of the two Princesses would be shared between their parents, and the Duchess even continued to live at the Duke's home, Sunninghill Park
Sunninghill Park
Sunninghill Park is a country house and estate of some , located north of Sunninghill, lying between Ascot and the southern boundary of Windsor Great Park in Berkshire, England. It was the official residence of the Duke of York from 1990 until 2004....
, until 2004, when he moved to the Royal Lodge
Royal Lodge
The Royal Lodge is a house in the civil parish of Old Windsor, located in Windsor Great Park, half a mile north of Cumberland Lodge and south of Windsor Castle. It was the Windsor residence of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1952 until her death there in 2002. Since 2004 it has been the...
. In 2003, Richard Kay, in his first gossip column for the Daily Mail, asserted that the Duke was about to marry the businesswoman Amanda Staveley
Amanda Staveley
Amanda Staveley is a British businesswoman notable chiefly for her connections with Middle Eastern investors. In 2008 Staveley played a prominent role in the investment of £7.3 billion in Barclays by the ruling families of Abu Dhabi and Qatar, and by the Qatari sovereign wealth fund...
. She was, however, subsequently quoted in the Sunday Telegraph saying "I will not be marrying Andrew now or in the future." In 2007, Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
purchased Dolphin House, a mansion directly beside the Royal Lodge. In 2008, a fire at Dolphin House resulted in Sarah moving into the Royal Lodge, again sharing a home with the Duke of York.
In May 2010, Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
was filmed by a News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
reporter claiming that the Duke of York had agreed that if she were to receive £500,000, he, the Prince, would meet the donor and pass on useful top level business contacts. She was filmed receiving, in cash, $40,000 as a down payment. The Duke's entourage denied he knew of the situation.
Official duties
UK Trade & Investment
UK Trade & Investment is a UK Government department working with businesses based in the United Kingdom to ensure their success in international markets, and encourage the best overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice ....
, part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...
, as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. His suitability for this role was challenged in the House of Commons by Shadow Justice Minister Chris Bryant
Chris Bryant
Christopher John Bryant is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Rhondda since 2001...
in February 2011, at the time of the 2011 Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
, on the grounds that he was ‘not only a very close friend of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, but also… a close friend of the convicted Libyan gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni’. It was from The Duke of Kent
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
The Duke of Kent graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 29 July 1955 as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys, the beginning of a military career that would last over 20 years. He was promoted to captain on 29 July 1961. The Duke of Kent saw service in Hong Kong from 1962–63...
that the Duke took over in this position, which involves him representing and promoting the UK at various trade fairs and conferences all around the world. Prince Andrew was also a member of the Scout Association
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
.
The Duke of York also tours Canada frequently to undertake duties related to his military role there. Rick Peters, the former Commanding Officer of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. Prince Andrew, as a member of the Canadian Royal Family, acts as Colonel-in-Chief. Previously, this post was held by Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon....
stated: "[Prince Andrew]'s very well informed on Canadian military methods."
The Duke is Patron of The Middle East Association (MEA), the UK’s premier organisation for promoting trade and good relations with the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Iran. He is also Patron of Fight for Sight (U.K.)
Fight for Sight (U.K.)
Fight for Sight is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to funding world-class research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease....
, a charity dedicated to research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease
The Duke of York receives a £249,000 annuity from the Queen. The Sunday Times reported in July 2008, that for "the Duke of York's public role,... he last year received £436,000 to cover his expenses."
More recently, on 8 March 2011, The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
reported:
Last year the prince spent £620,000 as a trade envoy, including £154,000 on hotels, food and hospitality and £465,000 on travel.
Alleged comments on corruption and Kazakhstan
As the United Kingdom's Special Trade Representative, The Duke of York frequently travels the world to promote British businesses. It was revealed in the United States diplomatic cables leakUnited States diplomatic cables leak
The United States diplomatic cables leak, widely known as Cablegate, began in February 2010 when WikiLeaks—a non-profit organization that publishes submissions from anonymous whistleblowers—began releasing classified cables that had been sent to the U.S. State Department by 274 of its consulates,...
that the Duke had been reported on by Tatiana Gfoeller
Tatiana C. Gfoeller
Tatiana C. Gfoeller is a United States diplomat who since 10/22/2008 serves as Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic.She is in US diplomatic service since 1984 and speaks Russian, French, Polish, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic.-Further reading:...
, the United States Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan
United States Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Kyrgyzstan.Until 1991 the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic had been a constituent SSR of the Soviet Union. Upon the breakup of the USSR, the Supreme Soviet of Kyrgyzstan declared itself independent of the Soviet Union on August 31, 1991 and...
, discussing bribery in Kyrgystan and the investigation into the Al-Yamamah arms deal.
- The Duke, she explained, "was referencing an investigation, subsequently closed, into alleged kickbacks a senior Saudi royal had received in exchange for the multi-year, lucrative BAE SystemsBAE SystemsBAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
contract to provide equipment and training to Saudi security forces."
The dispatch continued: "His mother's subjects seated around the table roared their approval. He then went on to 'these (expletive) journalists, especially from the National Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
[sic], who poke their noses everywhere' and (presumably) make it harder for British businessmen to do business. The crowd practically clapped!"
While these revelations were not shocking, they do complement earlier revelations mentioned in the same article. Earlier in 2010 it was revealed that the Kazakhstan President's billionaire son-in-law Timur Kulibayev
Timur Kulibayev
Timur Askarovich Kulibayev is a significant Kazakhstani public figure, and son-in-law of Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev. Kulibayev has held several positions in important state-owned enterprises that manage Kazakhstan's natural resources, and has immense influence over the country's...
paid the Duke of York's representatives £15m – £3m over the asking price – via offshore companies, for the Duke's Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
mansion, Sunninghill Park
Sunninghill Park
Sunninghill Park is a country house and estate of some , located north of Sunninghill, lying between Ascot and the southern boundary of Windsor Great Park in Berkshire, England. It was the official residence of the Duke of York from 1990 until 2004....
, with undue ease.
Mention of the Duke's connection frequently appears in US dispatches as one of the men who has accumulated millions in gas-rich Kazakhstan.
Friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and other controversies
In March 2011, it was reported that the Duke's friendship with billionaire Jeffrey EpsteinJeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Edward Epstein is an American financier. He served 13 months in jail of an 18-month sentence as a convicted sex offender in the state of Florida for soliciting an underage girl for prostitution...
, a man who is a convicted sex offender in the State of Florida for soliciting an underage girl for prostitution, was producing "a steady stream of criticism". The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reported:
It is not the first time questions have been raised about Prince Andrew's judgement, and there are now some calls for him to step down from his role as a UK trade envoy.... Prince Andrew had visited Epstein at his Florida home over the years, and newspapers have published photographs of him with Virginia Roberts, then 17, who has claimed that from the age of 15 she was sexually exploited by Epstein, even saying he wanted to have children with her but he would be their guardian, and some photos show him with his arm around her. Other women have also lodged claims against Epstein.
There is no suggestion Prince Andrew was involved in sexual contact with any of those making claims against Epstein. The prince has also reportedly vowed to have cut all ties with him.
Personal interests
The Duke is a capable and keen golfer, playing off a low single-figure handicap. He had the honour of being Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews between 2003 and 2004 during the club's 250th anniversary season is Patron of a number of royal golf clubs, and has been elected as an honorary member of many others. The Duke has been criticised for using the Queen's Flight for transport to various golfing functions. He is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of ShipwrightsWorshipful Company of Shipwrights
The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London.The Shipwrights' Company has not, unlike other Livery Companies, ever received a Royal Charter; instead, it is considered incorporated "by prescription" because the body had for a long time used this title...
, the maritime livery company of the City of London. In recent years, he has developed strong links with Kazakhstan and is a regular goose hunting companion of the country's President Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the nation received its independence in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union...
. He is a supporter of Norwich City Football Club
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
.
Titles and styles
- 19 February 1960 23 July 1986: His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew
- 23 July 1986 present: His Royal Highness The Duke of York
The Duke's style and title in full is His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Canadian Forces Decoration, Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Her Majesty. For May 2007 only, Andrew became entitled to be called (albeit academically) His Grace The Lord High Commissioner
Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the British Sovereign's personal representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland , reflecting the Church's role as the national church of Scotland, and the Sovereign's role as protector and member of...
to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
.
Naval ranks
- 1979–1981: MidshipmanMidshipmanA midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
, Britannia Royal Naval CollegeBritannia Royal Naval CollegeBritannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
, HMS Seahawk - 1981–1984: Sub-LieutenantSub-LieutenantSub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
, Pilot, 820 NAS on HMS InvincibleHMS Invincible (R05)HMS Invincible was a British light aircraft carrier, the lead ship of three in her class in the Royal Navy. She was launched on 3 May 1977 and is the seventh ship to carry the name. She saw action in the Falklands War when she was deployed with , she took over as flagship of the British fleet when...
; - 1984–1993: Lieutenant, Pilot, 815 NAS on HMS BrazenHMS Brazen (F91)HMS Brazen was a Type 22 frigate of the Royal Navy. She was completed three months ahead of schedule due to the Falklands War. It was purchased from the United Kingdom by the Brazilian Navy on 18 November 1994, and renamed Bosísio...
; Helicopter Warfare Instructor, 702 NAS at RNAS Culdrose; Flight Commander, 829 NAS on HMS CampbeltownHMS Campbeltown (F86)HMS Campbeltown was a Batch 3 Type 22 frigate of the British Royal Navy. Built by Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Ltd. in Birkenhead, she was part of the third batch of Type 22s, which were considerably larger than their predecessors and incorporated more advanced weaponry after lessons learnt from the... - 1993–1999: Lieutenant-Commander, Captain, HMS CottesmoreHMS Cottesmore (M32)HMS Cottesmore was a Hunt-class mine countermeasure vessel of the British Royal Navy, launched in 1982 and converted in 1997 into a patrol vessel. The ship was declared surplus to requirement and put on the MoD list for disposal in 2004...
; Senior Pilot, 815 NAS at RNAS PortlandRNAS PortlandRNAS Portland was an air station of the Royal Navy from 1917.The site was first built in 1917 as HMS Sarepta within the confines of Portland Harbour as a seaplane base; the aircraft operating from the base's slipways. In 1919 No...
; Directorate of Naval Operations, British Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces.... - 1999–2005: CommanderCommander (Royal Navy)Commander is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. It is immediately junior to captain and immediately senior to the rank of lieutenant commander...
, Diplomacy Section of the Naval Staff - 2005–2010: Honourary CaptainCaptain (Royal Navy)Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
- 2010–: Honourary Rear AdmiralRear Admiral (Royal Navy)Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....
Honours
Orders- 19 December 1979 2 June 2003: Commander of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(CVO)- 2 June 200321 February 2011: Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)
- 21 February 2011: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) 23 April 2006: Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the GarterOrder of the GarterThe Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(KG)
Decorations Canadian Forces Decoration
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
(CD) 2001
Medals
- 6 February 1977: Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee MedalQueen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee MedalThe Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II...
1982: South Atlantic MedalSouth Atlantic MedalThe South Atlantic Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British military personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands War of 1982, between the United Kingdom and Argentina; 29,700 were issued...
, with rosetteRosette (decoration)A rosette is a small, circular device that is presented with a medal. The rosettes are primarily for situations where wearing the medal is deemed inappropriate. Rosettes are issued in nations such as France, Italy and Japan...
1990: 1990 Commemoration Medal - 6 February 2002: Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee MedalQueen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee MedalThe Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II...
2005: Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of SaskatchewanCommemorative Medal for the Centennial of SaskatchewanThe Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan also called the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal is a commemorative medal struck to celebrate the first 100 years since Saskatchewan's entrance into Canadian Confederation....
Foreign orders 1988: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav 2010: Order of the Federation (UAE)
Medal Ribbons worn in the UK Order of Wear;
Honorary military appointments
- 1 February 1984: Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The QueenPersonal Aide-de-CampA Personal Aide-de-Camp is a senior officer of the military of any Commonwealth realm who is appointed to act as the honorary military attendant to the monarch or any of his or her viceroys...
(AdC(P))
Canada Canada Colonel-in-ChiefColonel-in-Chief
In the various Commonwealth armies, the Colonel-in-Chief of a regiment is its patron. This position is distinct from that of Colonel of the Regiment. They do not have an operational role. They are however kept informed of all important activities of the regiment, and pay occasional visits to its...
of the Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. Prince Andrew, as a member of the Canadian Royal Family, acts as Colonel-in-Chief. Previously, this post was held by Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon....
Colonel-in-Chief of the Princess Louise Fusiliers
The Princess Louise Fusiliers
The Princess Louise Fusiliers is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces.-History:Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this infantry regiment traces its local roots as a Halifax unit of Militia back to June 18, 1798 when Sir Edward Cornwalis formed a local Militia under his own command...
Colonel-in-Chief
Colonel-in-Chief
In the various Commonwealth armies, the Colonel-in-Chief of a regiment is its patron. This position is distinct from that of Colonel of the Regiment. They do not have an operational role. They are however kept informed of all important activities of the regiment, and pay occasional visits to its...
of the Canadian Airborne Regiment
The Canadian Airborne Regiment
The Canadian Airborne Regiment was a Canadian Forces formation created on April 8, 1968. It was not an administrative regiment in the commonly accepted British Commonwealth sense, but rather a tactical formation manned from other regiments and branches...
(disbanded)
New Zealand New Zealand Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic RegimentRoyal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment
Formed on the 9th of December 1996, the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment , sometimes known as "the Duke of York's Own", reflecting Prince Andrew's patronage, is the New Zealand Army's main Military Logistics & Combat Service Support element...
United Kingdom Colonel-in-Chief of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's)
9th/12th Royal Lancers
The 9th/12th Royal Lancers is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1960 by the amalgamation of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 12th Royal Lancers. It is currently a formation reconnaissance regiment, equipped with the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance family of vehicles and...
Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment) Colonel-in-Chief of the Small Arms School Corps
Small Arms School Corps
The Small Arms School Corps is a small corps of the British Army responsible for maintaining the proficiency of the army in the use of small arms, support weapons and range management.-History:...
Colonel-in-Chief of the Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)
Yorkshire Regiment
The Yorkshire Regiment is one of the largest infantry regiments of the British Army. The regiment is currently the only line infantry or rifles unit to represent a single geographical county in the new infantry structure, serving as the county regiment of Yorkshire covering the historical areas...
Royal Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland Honorary Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
of the Royal Air Force Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF's biggest bases and is currently Britain's main base for Tornado GR4s. From 2013 the Northern QRA force of Typhoon F2 will relocate to Lossiemouth following the closure of...
. Commodore-in-Chief
Commodore-in-Chief
Commodore-in-Chief is an honorary Royal Navy appointment bestowed by the Queen on various members of the Royal Family on 8 August 2006.Previously there have been honorary Royal Colonels in the British Army and honorary Air Commodores in the Royal Air Force, but no parallel affiliations with the...
of the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
Admiral of the ea cadet sea cadet corps
Ancestry
Issue
| Name | | Birth | | Marriage | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Beatrice of York Princess Beatrice of York Princess Beatrice of York is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York... |
8 August 1988 | |||
| Princess Eugenie of York Princess Eugenie of York Princess Eugenie of York Eugenie Victoria Helena; born 23 March 1990) is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York... |
23 March 1990 | |||
External links
in England and Wales
Order of precedence in England and Wales
The Order of precedence in England and Wales as of 11 May 2010:Names in italics indicate higher precedence elsewhere in the table or precedence in the table for the other sex.- Royal Family :* The Sovereign , regardless of gender...
and in Northern Ireland
Order of precedence in Northern Ireland
The order of precedence in Northern Ireland:-Gentlemen:#The Sovereign #The Duke of Edinburgh#Sons of the Sovereign##The Prince of Wales##The Duke of York##The Earl of Wessex#Grandsons of the Sovereign##The Duke of Cambridge...