# Prince Andrew, Duke of York ## Early Life and Education Born Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor on 19 February 1960 at Buckingham Palace, London, he is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. His early education included home tutoring and attendance at Heatherdown School near Ascot, followed by Gordonstoun School in Scotland (1972-1977). He did not pursue university, instead entering the Britannia Royal Naval College in 1979. ## Military Career Andrew joined the Royal Navy in 1979, serving as a helicopter pilot on the HMS *Invincible* during the Falklands War (1982). He rose to the rank of admiral by 2015. His military service included participation in the 1982 Falklands conflict and later roles in naval operations. ## Controversies and Withdrawal from Public Life In 2019, Andrew faced intense scrutiny over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He gave a controversial interview with the BBC's Emily Maitlis, which damaged the monarchy's reputation. Following this, he withdrew from public duties on 20 November 2019. In 2025, he relinquished his royal titles at the request of King Charles III. ## Personal Life Andrew married Sarah Ferguson in 1986, with whom he has two daughters: Princess Beatrice (b. 1988) and Princess Eugenie (b. 1990). The couple divorced in 1996. He has faced allegations of racism related to comments made during a 2007 state banquet. ## Honors and Recognition Andrew received the Order of the Bath (2006) and the Royal Victorian Order (2011), both of which were revoked in 2025. ## Lineage He is a descendant of the House of Glücksburg (younger line of the House of Oldenburg) and the House of Windsor. His paternal grandfather was Prince Louis of Battenberg, who changed the family name to Mountbatten in 1917. His maternal lineage includes British monarchs George VI and Queen Victoria. ## Legacy Andrew's career highlights include his naval service and charitable work, though his reputation was significantly impacted by the Epstein scandal and subsequent controversies. ## Sources [1] Buckingham Palace announcement, 2025 [2] BBC interview transcript, 2019 [3] UK Parliament records, 2020 [4] Royal Family official website, 2023 ## Image Gallery [Royal Lodge, Windsor](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Lodge_Windsor.jpg) [Prince Andrew portrait](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prince_Andrew_Duke_of_York_2020.jpg) [Order of the Bath insignia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Order_of_the_Bath_ribbon.svg) [Royal Victorian Order insignia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Victorian_Order_ribbon.svg) [Royal Lodge exterior](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Lodge_Windsor_exterior.jpg) [Prince Andrew in military uniform](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prince_Andrew_in_military_uniform.jpg)