Career Timeline of Prince Andrew, Duke of York: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is a member of the British royal family, the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Once second in line to the throne, he is now eighth. He served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot and during the Falklands War. His reputation has been significantly tarnished due to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual assault made by Virginia Giuffre. He was stripped of his honorary military titles and royal patronages in January 2022 and settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre out of court, though he has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

November 1978: Announcement of joining Royal Navy

In November 1978, The Royal Household announced that Andrew would join the Royal Navy the following year.

April 1979: Pilot training at the Royal Naval College Flight

During March and April 1979, Prince Andrew was enrolled at the Royal Naval College Flight, undergoing pilot training.

May 1979: Accepted as trainee helicopter pilot

In May 1979, Prince Andrew was accepted as a trainee helicopter pilot and signed on for 12 years.

September 1981: Commissioned as a sub-lieutenant

On September 1, 1981, Prince Andrew was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant.

1982: Advanced Training and Assignment to 820 Naval Air Squadron

In 1982, Prince Andrew completed advanced training on the Sea King helicopter and joined 820 Naval Air Squadron aboard HMS Invincible.

1983: Transfer to RNAS Portland

In late 1983, Prince Andrew transferred to RNAS Portland for training on the Lynx helicopter.

1983: Assignment to HMS Illustrious, RNAS Culdrose, and Remained with HMS Invincible

Prince Andrew remained with HMS Invincible until 1983, although he had brief assignments to HMS Illustrious, RNAS Culdrose, and the Joint Services School of Intelligence.

February 1984: Promotion to Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp

On February 1, 1984, Prince Andrew was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and Queen Elizabeth II appointed him as her personal aide-de-camp.

October 1986: Transfer to General List and Instructor's Course

On October 23, 1986, Prince Andrew transferred to the General List and enrolled in a helicopter warfare instructor's course at RNAS Yeovilton.

February 1987: Helicopter Warfare Officer in 702 Naval Air Squadron

From February 1987 to April 1988, Prince Andrew served as a helicopter warfare officer in 702 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Portland.

April 1988: End of service as Helicopter Warfare Officer

In April 1988, Prince Andrew's service as a helicopter warfare officer in 702 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Portland ended.

1989: Flight Commander on HMS Campbeltown

From 1989 to 1991, Prince Andrew served as flight commander and pilot of the Lynx HAS3 on HMS Campbeltown.

1989: Service on HMS Edinburgh

Prince Andrew served on HMS Edinburgh as an officer of the watch and Assistant Navigating Officer until 1989.

1990: Force Aviation Officer to Standing NRF Maritime Group 1

From 1990 to 1991, Prince Andrew acted as force aviation officer to Standing NRF Maritime Group 1 while HMS Campbeltown was flagship of the NATO force in the North Atlantic.

July 1991: Passed the squadron command examination

On 16 July 1991, Prince Andrew passed the squadron command examination.

March 1992: Passed the ship command examination

On 12 March 1992, Prince Andrew passed the ship command examination.

1993: Command of HMS Cottesmore

From 1993 to 1994, Prince Andrew commanded the Hunt-class minehunter HMS Cottesmore.

1994: Command of HMS Cottesmore

From 1993 to 1994, Prince Andrew commanded the Hunt-class minehunter HMS Cottesmore.

1995: Posted as senior pilot of 815 Naval Air Squadron

From 1995 to 1996, Prince Andrew was posted as senior pilot of 815 Naval Air Squadron.

1996: Posted as senior pilot of 815 Naval Air Squadron

From 1995 to 1996, Prince Andrew was posted as senior pilot of 815 Naval Air Squadron.

April 1999: Promotion to commander

On April 27, 1999, Prince Andrew was promoted to commander.

1999: Andrew Becomes Chairman of the Board of Trustees

In 1999, Prince Andrew had held the position of chairman of the board of trustees of the organisation since 1999.

2001: Start of business trips

In 2001, Prince Andrew began business trips between 2001 and 2011.

2001: Appointment to UK Trade & Investment

In 2001, Prince Andrew began working with UK Trade & Investment as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, a role previously held by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

2001: Finished Active Naval Career

Prince Andrew finished his active naval career at the Ministry of Defence in 2001.

2003: Andrew Becomes Patron of Attend Charity

In 2003, Prince Andrew became the patron of the charity Attend.

2003: Trade mission costs

In 2003, Prince Andrew's trade missions as special representative for UKTI cost £75,000.

February 2010: Promotion to Rear Admiral

On February 19, 2010, Prince Andrew was promoted to rear admiral on his 50th birthday.

July 2011: Termination as Trade Envoy

In July 2011, Andrew's role as trade envoy was terminated, and he reportedly cut all ties with Jeffrey Epstein.

July 2011: Stepping down from UK Trade & Investment role

In July 2011, Prince Andrew stepped down from his role as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, due to controversies and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

July 2011: End of Role as Special Representative

In July 2011, Prince Andrew's 10-year tenure as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment concluded.

2011: End of business trips

Prince Andrew's business trips ended in 2011. These trips occurred between 2001 and 2011.

September 2012: Andrew Abseils Down The Shard for Charity

On 3 September 2012, Prince Andrew was among a team of 40 people who abseiled down The Shard to raise money for educational charities the Outward Bound Trust and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

2012: Interest in Women's Interlink Foundation

In 2012, while touring India as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Prince Andrew became interested in the Women's Interlink Foundation (WIF), a charity supporting women's skills development. He and his family later started Key to Freedom, a project aimed at marketing products made by WIF.

2013: Andrew Becomes Patron of Universities

In 2013, it was announced that Prince Andrew was becoming the patron of London Metropolitan University and the University of Huddersfield.

2014: Founding of Pitch@Palace

In 2014, Prince Andrew founded the Pitch@Palace initiative, which aimed to support entrepreneurs by amplifying and accelerating their business ideas, providing access to investors, mentors, and business contacts.

2014: Andrew Promotes British Science at CERN

In 2014, Prince Andrew visited Geneva, Switzerland, to promote British science at CERN's 60th anniversary celebrations.

July 2015: Andrew Installed as Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield

In July 2015, Prince Andrew was installed as Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield.

May 2018: Visit to China and opening of Pitch@Palace China Bootcamp 2.0

In May 2018, Prince Andrew visited China and inaugurated the Pitch@Palace China Bootcamp 2.0 at Peking University, expanding the entrepreneurial initiative internationally.

March 2019: Andrew Takes Over Patronage of the Outward Bound Trust

In March 2019, Prince Andrew took over the patronage of the Outward Bound Trust from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh.

May 2019: Andrew Becomes Patron of the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust

In May 2019, it was announced that Prince Andrew had succeeded Lord Carrington as patron of the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust.

November 2019: Withdrawal of Sponsorship from Pitch@Palace

In November 2019, KPMG (on November 18) and Standard Chartered (on November 19) withdrew their sponsorship of Prince Andrew's Pitch@Palace entrepreneurial scheme, marking a significant setback for the initiative.

November 2019: Andrew Relinquishes Role as Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield

In November 2019, Prince Andrew relinquished his role as chancellor of the University of Huddersfield.

November 2019: Andrew Resigns From Outward Bound Trust

In November 2019, Prince Andrew resigned from his patronage of the Outward Bound Trust

November 2019: Andrew Suspends Public Duties

On 20 November 2019, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Andrew was suspending his public duties "for the foreseeable future". On 24 November, the palace confirmed that Andrew was to step down from all 230 of his patronages.

2019: Suspension of military affiliations

In 2019, Prince Andrew's military affiliations were suspended.

May 2020: Resignation from Public Roles

In May 2020, Prince Andrew resigned from public roles following criticism for his association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

May 2020: Andrew Permanently Resigns from Public Roles

In May 2020, it was announced that Prince Andrew would permanently resign from all public roles over his Epstein ties.

January 2022: Ceased Using Honorary Military Titles

In January 2022, Prince Andrew ceased using his honorary military titles following a letter signed by over 150 Royal Navy, RAF, and Army veterans.

January 2022: Andrew's Social Media Accounts Deleted and Titles Removed

In January 2022, Prince Andrew's social media accounts were deleted, his page on the royal family's website was rewritten in the past tense, and his military affiliations and patronages were removed. He also stopped using the style His Royal Highness (HRH). York Racecourse announced it would rename the Duke of York Stakes, and Prince Andrew High School in Nova Scotia stated that it would have a new name at the next academic year.

January 2022: Military affiliations returned to Queen Elizabeth II

On 13 January 2022, Prince Andrew's military affiliations were formally returned to Queen Elizabeth II.

January 2022: Andrew's Royal Patronages Returned to the Queen

On 13 January 2022, it was announced that Prince Andrew's royal patronages had been handed back to the Queen to be distributed among other members of the royal family.

January 2023: King Charles Agrees to Let Andrew Pursue Business Interests

In January 2023, it was reported that King Charles III had agreed to let Prince Andrew pursue some business interests.

July 2025: Giving Evidence Publishes Research on Prince Andrew’s Patronages

In July 2025, philanthropy advisor Giving Evidence published research on the impact of Prince Andrew’s charity patronages on the charities' incomes, finding no material differences in revenue patterns when Prince Andrew’s patronages ceased.