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. Formerly second in line to the throne, he is now eighth. He served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot and instructor and saw active service during the Falklands War. His royal duties diminished following scrutiny over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Allegations of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre led to a legal settlement and his relinquishment of royal patronages and military titles. He has largely withdrawn from public life since then.

Sections (5)

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

November 1978: Royal Navy Announcement

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

April 1979: Pilot Training

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

May 1979: Signing on for 12 years

On 11 May 1979, Andrew was accepted as a trainee helicopter pilot and signed on for 12 years in the Royal Navy.

September 1981: Commissioned as Sub-Lieutenant

On 1 September 1981, Andrew was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy.

April 1982: Argentina invades Falkland Islands

On 2 April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, leading to the Falklands War, in which Andrew would participate as a helicopter pilot on HMS Invincible.

1982: Operational Flying Training

In 1982, after completing his flying training, Andrew conducted operational flying training and joined carrier-based squadron, 820 Naval Air Squadron, serving aboard the aircraft carrier, HMS Invincible.

1983: Transfer to RNAS Portland

In late 1983, Andrew transferred to RNAS Portland, and was trained to fly the Lynx helicopter.

1983: Continued Service on HMS Invincible

Until 1983, Prince Andrew remained with HMS Invincible, following the Falklands War. He also had brief assignments to HMS Illustrious, RNAS Culdrose, and the Joint Services School of Intelligence.

February 1984: Promotion and Aide-de-Camp Appointment

On 1 February 1984, 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

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

February 1987: Helicopter Warfare Officer

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

April 1988: End of Helicopter Warfare Officer role

In April 1988, Prince Andrew ended his role as helicopter warfare officer in 702 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Portland.

1989: Flight Commander on HMS Campbeltown

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

1989: Service on HMS Edinburgh

Until 1989, Andrew served on HMS Edinburgh as an officer of the watch and Assistant Navigating Officer, including a six-month deployment to the Far East as part of exercise Outback 88.

1990: Force Aviation Officer

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

July 1991: Squadron Command Examination

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

March 1992: Ship Command Examination

On 12 March 1992, 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: Senior Pilot of 815 Naval Air Squadron

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

1996: Senior Pilot of 815 Naval Air Squadron

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

April 1999: Promotion to Commander

On 27 April 1999, Andrew was promoted to commander in the Royal Navy.

1999: Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Since 1999, Prince Andrew had held the position of chairman of the board of trustees of the Outward Bound Trust.

2001: End of Active Naval Career

In 2001, Andrew finished his active naval career at the Ministry of Defence and in July of that year, Andrew was retired from the Active List of the Navy.

February 2010: Promotion to Rear Admiral

On 19 February 2010, Andrew's 50th birthday, he was promoted to rear admiral.

July 2011: Andrew steps down as UK Trade Envoy

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

July 2011: Termination as trade envoy

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

September 2012: Abseiling Down The Shard

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

While touring India as a part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012, Prince Andrew became interested in the work of Women's Interlink Foundation (WIF).

2013: Becoming Patron of London Metropolitan University and the University of Huddersfield

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

2014: Promotion of British Science at CERN

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

July 2015: Installation as Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield

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

May 2018: Pitch@Palace China Bootcamp 2.0 Opened

In May 2018, Prince Andrew visited China and opened the Pitch@Palace China Bootcamp 2.0 at Peking University.

March 2019: Taking 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: Succeeding as 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: Resignation from Outward Bound Trust

In November 2019, Prince Andrew resigned from the Outward Bound Trust.

November 2019: Resignation as Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield

In November 2019, the Students' Union of the University of Huddersfield passed a motion to lobby Prince Andrew to resign as its chancellor. On 21 November, Andrew relinquished his role as chancellor of the University of Huddersfield.

November 2019: KPMG and Standard Chartered withdraw support from Pitch@Palace

On 18 and 19 November 2019, KPMG and Standard Chartered withdrew their sponsorship of Prince Andrew's entrepreneurial scheme, Pitch@Palace.

November 2019: Suspension of Public Duties

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

2019: Military Affiliations Suspended

In 2019, Andrew's military affiliations were suspended.

May 2020: Resignation from Public Roles

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

January 2022: Ceased using Honorary Military Titles

In January 2022, Andrew ceased using his honorary military titles after a letter signed by over 150 Royal Navy, RAF, and Army veterans requested Queen Elizabeth II to remove his honorary military appointments.

January 2022: Removal from Public Life

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).

January 2022: Removal of Military Affiliations and Patronages

In January 2022, Queen Elizabeth II removed Andrew's honorary military affiliations and royal charitable patronages.

January 2022: Royal Patronages Handed Back

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.