Andrew Albert Christian Edward was born at Buckingham Palace on February 19, 1960, the second son and third child of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. He was known as Prince Andrew until his marriage, when he was created The Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh. He was educated by a governess at Buckingham Palace until the age of eight, when he was sent to Heatherdown Preparatory School, Ascot; he was taught there until he was thirteen, when he moved on to Gordonstoun School in Morayshire, Scotland. After completing his secondary education he entered the Royal Navy.

the first photograph of Prince Andrew

Naval Career

Andrew joined the Royal Navy in 1979, as a Seaman Officer specializing as a pilot. He entered Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, where he took the full range of initial professional training and concurrently undertook the Royal Marine "Green Beret" course at the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone. He then went on to elementary flying training with the Royal Air Force at RAF Leeming, Yorkshire, and then to basic flying training with the Royal Navy at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, Cornwall. He received his Wings from The Duke of Edinburgh in April 1981.

Prince Andrew in naval uniform

Andrew first saw active service in 1983, when his squadron sailed to the South Atlantic to regain the Falkland Islands from Argentina. Throughout the conflict he flew on various missions, and also helped in casualty evacuation, transport, and Search and Air Rescue.

Andrew remained on active duty in the Royal Navy, serving in a variety of assignments, through July 2001, leaving with the rank of Commander.

Marriage and Family

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were married in Westminster Abbey on July 23, 1986. At the time of their marriage Prince Andrew was created The Duke of York and Sarah became the Duchess of York.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson walking down the aisle

The Duke and Duchess' first child, Beatrice Elizabeth Mary, was born at the Portland Hospital in London on August 8, 1988. Their second child, Eugenie Victoria Helena, was born on March 23, 1990, also at the Portland Hospital.

The Duke and Duchess were divorced in May 1996.

Patronages, Activities and Interests

The Duke of York is Patron of, or associated with, more than 100 diverse organizations, including the British Deaf Association, the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Deaf, Fight for Sight, the Jubilee Sailing Trust, the Royal Aero Club, the City Ballet of London, and the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions. In 1999, he became chairman of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Full Stop Campaign to end child abuse. The Duke of York is also an active Trustee of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, and Patron of Greenwich College.

Service Appointments

The Duke of York holds one naval service appointment -- Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps, which he took over from The Duke of Edinburgh in 1992. In 1989, he was made Colonel in Chief of the Staffordshire Regiment. In 1992, he became the Colonel in Chief of the Royal Irish Regiment. He is also Colonel in Chief of the Royal New Zealand Logistic Regiment and the Air Commodore of RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire.

See Also

Queen Elizabeth II

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This page was last updated on September 06, 2018.