Former prince Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is set to lose his final military position following a decision from King Charles III to remove him from public life. The announcement was made by John Healey, the UK’s Defence Secretary, during an interview with BBC television. Healey confirmed that steps are being taken to strip Andrew of his rank as a vice admiral in the Royal Navy.
The King’s decision comes in the wake of ongoing concerns about Andrew’s connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Last week, King Charles officially removed Andrew’s title of prince, further distancing the royal family from controversies surrounding his past. Andrew has been evicted from his residence, a move aimed at safeguarding the royal family’s reputation.
Healey stated, “This is a move that’s right, it’s a move the King has indicated we should take and we’re working on that at the moment.” The Defence Secretary clarified that the Ministry of Defence is actively working on the process to remove Andrew’s rank, which he received on his 55th birthday in 2015.
Andrew retained his vice admiral rank even after relinquishing other military roles in March 2022. When asked whether he would keep his medals, including the one awarded for his service during the Falklands War, Healey refrained from providing a definitive answer. He emphasized that any decisions would align with the King’s directives.
Andrew’s association with the Royal Navy dates back to 1979, when he commenced officer training at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. He later served as a helicopter pilot and was part of the task force that retook the Falkland Islands after the Argentinian invasion in 1982.
The ongoing developments regarding Andrew’s military status mark a significant shift in the royal family’s approach to public scrutiny and accountability, reflecting a broader effort to restore the monarchy’s standing in the eyes of the public.
