About The Duke of York
Biography
The Duke of York was born at Buckingham Palace on 19 February 1960. He is the third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Christened Andrew Albert Christian Edward, he was titled The Prince Andrew until his marriage in 1986, when he was created The Duke of York by Queen Elizabeth II.
On 23 July 1986 Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey. The couple, who divorced in 1996, have two children: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and three grandchildren: August and Ernest (sons of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank) and Sienna (daughter of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi).
Service in the Royal Navy
Prince Andrew joined the Royal Navy in 1979 and passed out of Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth in 1980, before undergoing fixed-wing and helicopter flight training at RAF Leeming and Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose respectively.
Sub Lieutenant Prince Andrew converted to the Sea King helicopter, before joining his first front-line unit: 820 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) embarked in HMS INVINCIBLE. In April 1982 the unit sailed as part of the Task Group to the South Atlantic to regain the Falkland Islands. The Duke of York's active service with the Royal Navy spanned twenty-two years until July 2001.
Role as Special Representative for International Trade and Investment
After completing his military career, The Duke was invited to take up a new position as the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. Working with Her Majesty’s Government, and specifically UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the role involved promoting Britain as a destination for inward investment, and creating favourable conditions for UK businesses exporting and investing overseas.
Supporting Queen Elizabeth II
The Duke of York supported The late Queen in her role as Head of State through representing Her Majesty at events and visits in the UK and abroad; receiving Heads of State and Government officials, and attending state and ceremonial occasions.
His Royal Highness attended The Queen's Birthday Parade – also known as Trooping the Colour – in June each year; the national Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph in London, and The Queen's Garden Parties, which gave him the opportunity to meet members of charities, organisations and military personnel from across the Commonwealth.
The Duke also represented Queen Elizabeth II during visits to Commonwealth and overseas countries. To mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in 2012, The Duke of York represented Her late Majesty on a visit to India, travelling to New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kohima. In 2015, The Duke of York represented Queen Elizabeth II at events in Singapore to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Independence. The Duke also represented Her late Majesty at the opening ceremony of the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea in 2015.
Statements and announcements
13 January 2022: Statement announcing that The Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages would be returned to Her Majesty, and The Duke would not return to public duties: A statement from Buckingham Palace regarding The Duke of York | The Royal Family
10 November 2019: Statement from The Duke of York confirming that he would be stepping back from public duties for the foreseeable future. A statement by His Royal Highness The Duke of York | The Royal Family
