Prince Andrew, Duke of York |
His Royal Highness The Duke of York, Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor (born February 19, 1960), a member of the British Royal Family, is the third child (and second son) of Queen
Elizabeth II of the United
Kingdom and Prince Philip, Duke
of Edinburgh.
His Royal Highess The Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of
York, Baron Killyleagh, Earl of Inverness, KCVO, ADC was born at Buckingham Palace, the first child born to a reigning monarch since Queen Victoria's youngest child, Princess
Beatrice, in 1857. Prior to his marriage, he was known as His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew.
Prince Andrew received his early education at home, before attending Heatherdown Preparatory School, near Ascot, Berkshire. In
September 1973, he followed his father, The Duke of Edinburgh, and his elder brother, The Prince of Wales, to Gordonstoun, near Morayshire, Scotland. From January to June
1977, the prince went on an exchange program Lakefield College, Ontario, Canada. He left Gordonstoun in July 1979 with A-levels in English, history and economics, and political science.
Unlike his brothers, Prince Andrew did not attend university.
The Duke of York had a twenty year career as a naval officer. In September 1979, he joined the Royal Navy on a short-term commission as a seaman officer specializing as a helicopter piot. He entered
the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and elder brother. A trained
helicopter pilot, the Duke of York retired from active duty at the rank of commander in July 2001. After leaving the navy, he
succeeded his cousin, The Duke of Kent, as
the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment.
In his late teens and early twenties, Prince Andrew earned a reputation as a playboy, and his relationships with "unsuitable"
women, particularly the actress/model, Koo Stark, attracted unwanted media
attention and gained him the nickname "Randy Andy". During the Falklands
War of 1982, Prince Andrew was on active service as a helicopter pilot, and this helped improve his public image. After the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992, it was the Duke of York who spoke to the
media on behalf of the royal family.
On July 23, 1986 Prince Andrew married
Sarah Ferguson, the second daughter of the late Major
Ronald Ferguson and his former wife, the late Mrs. Hector Barrantes, at Westminster Abbey. On the occassion of his wedding, the Queen created him Duke of York, at title
previsouly held by both his maternal great grandfather, King George V, and his maternal grandfather, King George VI.
The Duke and Duchess of York divorced on May 30, 1996, having had two daughters, Princess
Beatrice of York (born August 8, 1988)
and Princess Eugenie of York (born March 23, 1990). The Duke of York was widely seen as
the injured party in the divorce. His performance as a husband and family man had impressed the general public, and he is
currently one of the more popular members of the British Royal
Family.
The Duke of York and his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, share custody of their children. The Duke currently lives at
Sunninghill Park, next to the Great Park, Windsor. In 2002, Buckingham Palace announced the Duke of York would move his official
residence to Royal Lodge, Windsor,
the former country home of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the
Queen Mother. The Duke of York maintains an office at Buckingham Palace.
Military Information
- 1981-83: Pilot, 820 NAS on HMS Invincible
(including activity in the Falklands War)
- 1983-84: Conversion to Lynx
helicopter at RNAS
Culdrose
- 1984-86: Promoted to Lieutenant; pilot, 815 NAS on HMS Brazen
- 1987-89: Helicopter Warfare Instructor, 702 NAS at RNAS Culdrose
- 1989-91: Flight commander, 829 NAS on HMS
Campbeltown
- 1992-93: Army Command and Staff Course; promoted to Lieutenant Commander
- 1993-94: Captain, HMS Cottesmore
- 1994-96: Senior Pilot, 815 NAS at RNAS Portland
- 1997-99: Directorate of Naval Operations, MOD
- 1999-2001: Promoted to Commander; appointed to Diplomacy Section of the Naval
Staff
Colonel-in-Chief
He is Colonel-in-Chief of the following regiments:
- Staffs Regiment
- The Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment
- The Royal Irish Regiment
- The Queen's York Rangers
External Link
|