Figure 1.--Prince Andrew at about 9 years of age wearing a kilt for a formal event.

Prince Andrew (1960- ), Duke of York is the second son of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. Andrew was born on February 19, 1960 at Buckingham Palace; the first child to be born to a reigning monarch for 103 years. Christened Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace, he was known as Prince Andrew until his marriage, when he was created The Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh. The Duke of York's first child was born on August 8, 1988 and was named Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York. Their second child was born March 23, 1990 and named Eugenie Victoria Helena of York. In March 1992 it was announced that The Duke and Duchess were to separate. May of 1996 the divorce was finalized. The Duke and Duchess have continued to support joint custody of their children.

Parents

Prince Andrew had two of the most famous parents in the world, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Philip was the first prince born to a reining monarch since Victoria's sons. The event was the subject of considerable press attention. The Queen was a very different moither to Andrew than she had been to Carles and Anne. When they were born she was busy learing the business of monarchy. When Andrew was born she had her job well in hand and spent a great deal of time with him. She also kept him so out of the public eye that rumors began circulting about him. By all accounts, Andrew was the Queen's favorite. He was also the kind of boy his father preferred.

Childhood

Andrew was born on February 19, 1960 at Buckingham Palace; the first child to be born to a reigning monarch for 103 years. Christened Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace, he was known as Prince Andrew. He soon proved quite a handfull. While Charles had been quiet an obedient, Andrew was boisterous. His nanny confided that she could not deal with two of him. Andrew became a Cub as a boy and loved the outdoor activities.

Boyhood Clothes

Andrew was dressed much like his older brother Charles as a small boy. He usually wore short pants and kneesocks. He also attended private schools, ending the private schooling of royal children. As fashions were changing in the late 1960s, Andrew began wearing long pants at a earlier age than his older brother. Andrew for many dress occasions wore kilts.

Education

Andrew began his education at the age of 4 at the royal estate. He attended Heatherdown Preparatory School from 1968-1973. He started at the traditional age of 8 years. The school was located near Ascot. After finishing prep school, he attended Gordonstoun School from 1973-1979 in Scotland. He was much happier there than his brother Charles. He then spent two terms at Lake field College School in Ontario, Canada on the Round Square Exchange Program.

As with his brothers and father, Andrew attended Gordonstoun school in Scotland. Unlike his older brother who hated the school, Prince andrew loved it and was very successful there. After Gordonstoun, Andrew spoent two terms at Lakefield School in Ontario.

Military Career

Following in royal tradition Andrew attended the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth and joined the Navy in 1979. He began training as helicopter pilot in 1991. He saw combat experience against Argentina in The Falklands War. He achieved rank of Lieutenant Commander (LTCDR). He requested that his nervous superiors not grant special consideration simply because of his royal status.

Personality

Andrew is known for being the most boisterous and out-going of the Princes and has had romantic liaisons with society women of less than perfect reputation.

Marriage

Upon marriage he was created The Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh. Among much public adoration and anticipation of another glorious royal wedding, Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson in July 1986. They were given the titles of Duke and Duchess of York, an honor often bestowed on the monarch's second son.

Their perceived lifestyle and issue of two children of close ages (the Princesses Beatrice and Eugeine), very much earned them the public image of the royals of the 1980's boom years. The couple decided in 1992 to separate due to irreconcilable differences, a matter which was generally regarded as unfortunate and treated with privacy and respect by the press and public alike.

Children

The Duke of York's first child was born on August 8, 1988 and was named Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York. Their second child was born March 23, 1990 and named Eugenie Victoria Helena of York. In March 1992 it was announced that The Duke and Duchess were to separate. May of 1996 the divorce was finalized. The Duke and Duchess have continued to support joint custody of their children.The Duke of York continues to be a devoted father and has a busy schedule of public engagements.

Undoing

The English press knicked named Abdrew as Randy Andy because of all his various affairs. He seems to gave bee the ueen;s faiorite of all her sons. Many of his affairs were chronicled by the British press. Having affairs before marriage was one thing, but what was to follow was very diggerent-- he got involved wih Jeffry Epstreain (2919). That mean little at the time. Epstein attended a party at Windsor Castle hosted by Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate Andrew’s 40th birthday (2000).The event marked one of the first documented meetings between Epstein and Andrew. Virginia Giuffre (who at the time was Virginia Roberts) accused Andrew of raping her in 2001 when she was only 17 years old. She alleged that she had been sex trafficked by Epstein, and that she feared for her life if she refused to sunmit to Andrew. This died down for a while, then he Epstrein Scandal exploded in America (2008). .Andrew maintained contact with him Epstein. Giuffre reported her allegations and filed papers in Florida for a civil case, alleging that she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions between 2001 and 2002 when she was still 17 (2015). Rumors circulated. Andrew gave a TV interview which bakfired. Andrew annimced he wassteppin bck from royal duties (2019). Epstein was arrested in New York City and federally charged with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors The convicted rapist and pedophile died by suicide at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York while awaiting trial. Giuffre filed a civil case against Andrew in a U.S. federal court for sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She sought undisclosed damages from Andrew. Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew (2021) before settling for millions of dollars (2022). Andrew had appealed to the Queen saying that he was innocent. Giuffre died by suicide at her home in Western Australia (2025). Her posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice> The book detailed her experiences with Epstein and Andrew. King Charles stripped Andrew of his royal titles and honors after it was revealed that he maintained his relationship with Epstein for longer than he previously claimed. Charles also announced that Andrew would be evicted from his Royal Lodge home in Windsor and move into the king’s private estate in Norfolk. Documents from the released Epstein files allegedly showed that Andrew (pictured here in 2022) forwarded sensitive government documents to Epstein while serving as U.K. trade envoy. The documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice from the Epstein files apparently showed that Andrew forwarded sensitive government documents, including confidential trade information, to Epstein. Andrew was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office (2026). He was taken into custody, and officers searched his addresses in both Berkshire and Norfolk. Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming that King Charles — who was not informed in advance that his brother would be arrested — would support the police’s investigation into Andrew’s connections with Epstein. A lot is still unknown bout Andrew’s arrest, both regarding the details of the allegations and the procedure of the case.

Created: February 26, 1999
Last updated: 10:46 AM 4/3/2026