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3 May 2023, 16:14
Prince Andrew was one of the biggest celebrities of the 1980s, especially after his high-profile wedding with Sarah Ferguson.
But who exactly is Prince Andrew and where is he in line to the throne? Here's all you need to know:
Prince Andrew was the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. At the time of his birth, he was second in the line of succession to the British throne. Currently, he is eighth.
He held the rank of commander and the honorary rank of Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy, in which he served as an active-duty helicopter pilot, and as the captain of a warship. He also served during the Falklands War, flying on multiple missions.
Andrew was born on February 19, 1950. He marked his 63rd birthday in 2023.
In recent years, Andrew has been accused of sexual abuse by Virginia Giuffre, who has alleged that as a minor she was sex trafficked to him by American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, something which Andrew has categorically denied.
Due to a large negative reaction to his connections to Epstein, he permanently resigned from public roles in May 2020, and his honorary military affiliations were returned to the Queen in January 2022.
In February 2022, he had an out-of-court settlement in a civil lawsuit over sexual assault filed by Giuffre in New York.
Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey on July 23, 1986. He was then created the Duke of York. He had known Ferguson since childhood, and became re-acquainted at Royal Ascot in 1985.
However, the Duke of York's frequent travel due to his military career, led to problems in the marriage. In 1992, the couple announced plans to separate, and did so amicably. The marriage ended in divorce in May 1996.
He has spoken fondly of his former wife: "We have managed to work together to bring our children up in a way that few others have been able to and I am extremely grateful to be able to do that."
Prince Andrew is thought to be single at present. In 2010, he was pictured on a yacht with 25-year-old model Alexandra Escat. Four years later, Andrew was said to have been dating George Clooney’s ex-girlfriend Monika Jakisic.
Prince Andrew has two children with Sarah Ferguson: Princess Beatrice (born 1988) and Princess Eugenie (born 1990).
Andrew and Sarah have always had joint custody of their daughters after their divorce, and frequently go on holiday as a family.
Prince Andrew has an estimated net worth of around £62 million ($82 million), according to The Richest.