Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor (born 19 February 1960), formerly Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is a member of the House of Windsor. He is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and a younger brother of King Charles III. Andrew was born second in the line of succession to the British throne and is eighth as of 2026.

Serving in the Royal Navy from 1979 to 2001, he saw active duty as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War; he later became a helicopter instructor and commanded a warship. He married Sarah Ferguson in 1986, and was created Duke of York on their wedding day. They had two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, before separating in 1992 and divorcing in 1996. From 2001 to 2011, Andrew served as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, but resigned following scrutiny of his expenses and associations with controversial figures. He continued to undertake official duties on behalf of Elizabeth II until 2019.

Andrew had a long-standing association with the American financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In 2014, Virginia Giuffre said that she had been sex trafficked to Andrew by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew denied any wrongdoing, and in 2022 settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre in the United States without admission of liability. In the same year, Elizabeth II removed his military affiliations and patronages, and he ceased using the style "Royal Highness". In 2025, Charles III removed Andrew's remaining royal styles and honours, and restricted his use of titles and peerages. He vacated Royal Lodge, part of the Crown Estate, and relocated to private accommodation on the Sandringham estate. Following the release of more Epstein files in early 2026, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and was later released under investigation.

Early life

During a 45-day tour of Canada in June and July 1959, Queen Elizabeth II discovered that she was pregnant. The pregnancy was not disclosed to the public during the tour. After her return to London, Buckingham Palace announced on 7 August that she would not undertake further public engagements, a customary indication of royal pregnancy. Andrew was born a prince at 3:30 pm on 19 February 1960 at Buckingham Palace, the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He was christened Andrew Albert Christian Edward in the Music Room at the palace on 8 April.

Andrew was the first child born to a reigning British monarch since Princess Beatrice, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria, in 1857. Like his siblings, Charles, Anne and Edward, he was looked after by a governess, who oversaw his early education at Buckingham Palace. He later attended Heatherdown School near Ascot in Berkshire. In September 1973 he entered Gordonstoun in Moray, which his father and elder brother had also attended. He was nicknamed "the Sniggerer" by his schoolmates at Gordonstoun, because of "his penchant for off-colour jokes, at which he laughed inordinately". While there, he spent six months – from January to June 1977 – participating in an exchange programme at Lakefield College School in Canada. He left Gordonstoun in July two years later with A-levels in English, history and economics.

Naval military service

Training

The Royal Household announced in November 1978 that Andrew would join the Royal Navy the following year. In December, he underwent a series of sporting tests and examinations at the Aircrew Selection Centre, at RAF Biggin Hill, followed by further tests and interviews at HMS Daedalus and the Admiralty Interview Board, HMS Sultan. During March and April 1979, he was enrolled at the Royal Naval College Flight for pilot training, after which he was accepted as a trainee helicopter pilot and signed on for 12 years from 11 May 1979. On 1 September that year, Andrew was appointed a midshipman and entered Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He also completed the Royal Marines All Arms Commando Course in 1979, for which he received his green beret. He was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant on 1 September 1981 and appointed to the Trained Strength on 22 October.

After passing out from Dartmouth, Andrew undertook elementary flying training with the Royal Air Force at RAF Leeming, followed by basic flying training with the navy at HMS Seahawk, where he learned to fly the Gazelle helicopter. After being awarded his wings, he progressed to advanced training on the Sea King helicopter and carried out operational flying training until 1982. He subsequently joined 820 Naval Air Squadron on the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible.

Falklands War

On 2 April 1982 Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory administered by the United Kingdom and claimed by Argentina, triggering the Falklands War. Invincible was one of only two operational aircraft carriers available to the Royal Navy and therefore played a major role in the task force assembled to retake the islands.

Andrew's presence on board, and the risk of a royal family member being killed in action, made the British government apprehensive, and the Cabinet sought to move him to a desk role for the duration of the conflict. The Queen, however, insisted that her son remain with his ship. Andrew served on Invincible as a Sea King helicopter co-pilot, flying missions that included anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, Exocet missile decoy operations, casualty evacuation, transport, and search and air rescue. He witnessed the Argentine attack on SS Atlantic Conveyor.

At the end of the war, Invincible returned to Portsmouth, where Elizabeth and Philip joined other families of the crew in welcoming the vessel home. According to historian Andrew Lownie, the Argentine military government planned, but ultimately did not attempt, to assassinate Andrew on Mustique in July 1982. Although he had brief assignments to HMS Illustrious, RNAS Culdrose, and the School of Service Intelligence, Andrew remained with Invincible until 1983. Commander Nigel Ward's memoir Sea Harrier Over the Falklands described Andrew as "an excellent pilot and a very promising officer."

Career officer

In late 1983 Andrew transferred to RNAS Portland and was trained to fly the Lynx helicopter. On 1 February 1984 he was promoted to lieutenant, after which Elizabeth appointed him her personal aide-de-camp. Andrew served aboard HMS Brazen as a flight pilot until 1986, including deployment to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Standing NRF Maritime Group 2. He undertook the Lieutenants' Greenwich Staff course.

On 23 October 1986 he transferred to the General List and enrolled on a four-month helicopter warfare instructor's course at RNAS Yeovilton. Upon graduation, he served from February 1987 to April 1988 as a helicopter warfare officer in 702 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Portland. He later served on HMS Edinburgh as officer of the watch and Assistant Navigating Officer until 1989, including a six-month deployment to the Far East as part of exercise Outback 88.

From 1989 to 1991 Andrew served as flight commander and pilot of the Lynx HAS3 on HMS Campbeltown. He also acted as force aviation officer to Standing NRF Maritime Group 1 while Campbeltown was flagship of the NATO force in the North Atlantic from 1990 to 1991. He passed the squadron command examination on 16 July 1991, attended the Staff College, Camberley in 1992, and completed the Army Staff course. He was promoted to lieutenant-commander on 1 February and passed the ship command examination on 12 March 1992. From 1993 to 1994 Andrew commanded the Hunt-class minehunter HMS Cottesmore.

From 1995 to 1996 Andrew was posted as senior pilot of 815 Naval Air Squadron, then the largest flying unit in the Fleet Air Arm. His main responsibility was to supervise flying standards and ensure effective operational capability. He was promoted to commander on 27 April 1999. He concluded his active naval career at the Ministry of Defence in 2001 as an officer of the Diplomatic Directorate of the Naval Staff. In July that year, Andrew was retired from the Active List of the Navy. He was made an honorary captain in 2004, promoted to rear admiral on his 50th birthday on 19 February 2010, and to vice admiral in 2015.

Personal life

Relationships

Before marriage

In May 1978 the Evening News reported that Andrew had acquired the nickname "Randy Andy" (with "randy" being British slang for "sexually eager") while at Gordonstoun, owing to his being romantically involved with several women. UPI also used this nickname, stating that before beginning his naval career in 1979 he "seemed to be in training as a professional playboy". Andrew met the American photographer and actress Koo Stark in February 1981, before his active service in the Falklands War. In October 1982 they holidayed together on the island of Mustique. Tina Brown later described Stark as Andrew's only serious love interest. The couple separated in 1983 under pressure from the press and the palace. In 1997 Andrew became godfather to Stark's daughter. When Andrew faced accusations in 2015 regarding his association to Jeffery Epstein, Stark publicly defended him.