Early Life and Education of Prince Andrew, Duke of York: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Prince Andrew, Duke of York. From birth to education, explore key events.

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 He has largely withdrawn from public life since then.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

February 1960: Birth of Prince Andrew

In February 1960, Andrew Albert Christian Edward was born. He is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Others born on this day/year

February 1960: Birth at Buckingham Palace

In February 1960, Andrew was born in the Belgian Suite of Buckingham Palace at 15:30 (GMT), to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Others born on this day/year

April 1960: Baptism in the Music Room

In April 1960, Andrew was baptised in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace.

September 1973: Entry into Gordonstoun

In September 1973, Andrew entered Gordonstoun, a school in northern Scotland that his father and elder brother had also attended.

June 1977: Exchange Program to Lakefield College School

From January to June 1977, Andrew spent six months participating in an exchange programme to Lakefield College School in Canada.

April 1979: Pilot Training

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

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.

July 1982: Alleged Assassination Plot

In July 1982, the Argentine military government reportedly planned to assassinate Andrew on Mustique, though the attempt was never carried out.

October 1982: Holiday on Mustique

In October 1982, Andrew and Koo Stark took a holiday together on the island of Mustique.

1983: Transfer to RNAS Portland

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

July 1986: Marriage to Sarah Ferguson and Dukedom

On 23 July 1986, Andrew married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey, and Queen Elizabeth II created him Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killyleagh.

July 1986: Granted Dukedom of York

On July 23, 1986, Prince Andrew was granted the Dukedom of York, the Earldom of Inverness, and the Barony of Killyleagh, assuming the style "His Royal Highness The Duke of York".

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.

1986: Marriage to Sarah Ferguson and Dukedom

In 1986, Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson and was made Duke of York.

1990: Construction of Sunninghill Park

In 1990, Sunninghill Park was built near Windsor Great Park for Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

March 1992: Announcement of Separation

On 19 March 1992, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson announced plans to separate in an amicable way, which was attributed to Andrew's frequent travel and the relentless media attention focused on the Duchess of York.

1992: Separation from Sarah Ferguson

In 1992, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson separated, attracting extensive media coverage.

May 1996: Divorce from Sarah Ferguson

On 30 May 1996, the marriage between Andrew and Sarah Ferguson ended in divorce.

1996: Divorce from Sarah Ferguson

In 1996, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's divorce was finalized, marking the end of their marriage.

1997: Godfather to Stark's Daughter

In 1997, Andrew became godfather to Koo Stark's daughter.

1999: Andrew met Epstein

In the November 2019 Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew says he met Epstein in 1999 through Maxwell.

2003: Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews

Between 2003 and 2004, Andrew was captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews during the club's 250th anniversary season.

2003: Patron of Attend

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

2004: Andrew moves to Royal Lodge

In 2004, Prince Andrew moved to the Royal Lodge, ending his cohabitation at Sunninghill Park with Sarah Ferguson.

2007: Sarah moves to Dolphin House

In 2007, Sarah Ferguson moved into Dolphin House in Englefield Green, which is located less than a mile from the Royal Lodge.

May 2008: Andrew attended goose-hunt in Kazakhstan

In May 2008, Andrew attended a goose-hunt in Kazakhstan with President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

July 2008: Report on the Duke of York's Expenses

The Sunday Times reported in July 2008 that for "the Duke of York's public role ... he last year received £436,000 to cover his expenses".

2008: Fire at Dolphin House

In 2008, a fire at Dolphin House resulted in Sarah Ferguson moving back into Royal Lodge, sharing a house with Prince Andrew again.

2008: Fond words about Former Wife

In 2008, the Duke of York spoke fondly of his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, highlighting their successful co-parenting of their children.

July 2011: Sarah's debts cleared

In July 2011, Sarah Ferguson stated that her multi-million pound debts had been cleared due to the intervention of her former husband, whom she compared to a "knight on a white charger".

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.

2013: Urramoor Ltd Established

Urramoor Ltd, owned by the Urramoor Trust, was established in 2013.

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.

May 2018: Elected to Honorary Fellowship at Hughes Hall

On 1 May 2018, Prince Andrew was elected to an Honorary Fellowship at Hughes Hall in the University of Cambridge.

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.

2019: Urramoor Trust Established

In 2019, after Andrew's Newsnight interview, his private office established the Urramoor Trust, which owned both Lincelles Unlimited and Urramoor Ltd, reportedly to support his family.

2019: BBC Interview

In the 2019, Prince Andrew told Newsnight his association with Epstein was derived from his long-standing friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell, who was later convicted of colluding in Epstein's sexual abuse.

2020: Lincelles Unlimited Established

Lincelles Unlimited, owned by the Urramoor Trust, was established in 2020.

September 2021: Legal Agreement Reached and Chalet to be Sold

In September 2021, it was reported that Andrew and Sarah reached a legal agreement with the property's previous owner and would sell their chalet in Verbier, Switzerland.

January 2022: Style of HRH

In January 2022, it was reported that Andrew retains the style of His Royal Highness, but would no longer use it in a public capacity.

March 2022: Official Appearance at Memorial Service

In March 2022, Prince Andrew made his first official appearance in months, helping the Queen to walk into Westminster Abbey for a memorial service for his father, the Duke of Edinburgh.

June 2022: Exclusion from Public Garter Day Procession

In June 2022, Prince Andrew took part in private aspects of the Garter Day ceremony but was excluded from the public procession following an intervention by his brother Charles and his nephew William.

June 2022: Andrew tests positive for COVID-19

On June 2, 2022, Prince Andrew tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the announcement that he would not attend the Platinum Jubilee National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on June 3.

September 2022: Appearance at Ceremonial Events and Heckling

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, Prince Andrew appeared in civilian clothing at various ceremonial events. As he walked behind his mother's coffin in Edinburgh on 12 September, he was heckled and verbally abused.

September 2022: Line of Succession

As of September 2022, Andrew is eighth in the line of succession to the British throne.

2022: Lincelles Unlimited Wound Up

In 2022, Lincelles Unlimited was voluntarily wound up.

March 2023: Offer of Frogmore Cottage

In March 2023, Prince Andrew was offered Frogmore Cottage after Prince Harry was asked to vacate it, amid reports that Andrew could no longer afford the Royal Lodge's running costs.