Andrew Mountbatten Windsor: Former prince could lose Falklands medal after being stripped of military position

Former prince Andrew could lose his medal from the Falklands War in a revelation made just hours after the UK defence minister confirmed the ousted royal will be stripped of his last remaining military position as part of King Charles’ decision to remove his brother from public life.

The Times reports that Buckingham Palace has refused to rule out the former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, also being stripped of his campaign medal from the 1982 conflict between the United Kingdom and Argentina over two British overseas territories.

Defence Secretary John Healey told BBC television that moves were underway to take away Andrew’s position as a vice admiral in the UK navy and that Charles had “indicated that’s what he wishes”.

The King last week stripped his younger brother of his title of prince and evicted him from his mansion in a bid to prevent further damage to the royal family’s reputation over Andrew’s ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Healey said his department was “working to remove” the rank, which Andrew was awarded on his 55th birthday in 2015.

“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,” Mr Healey said.

The Ministry of Defence is reportedly working at haste to make the move in accordance with the King’s wishes.

“In general, the government’s been guided by the decisions and judgments the King has made,” Mr Healey said.

“In defence, it’s exactly the same. And we’ve seen Andrew surrender the honorary positions he’s had throughout the military, and guided again by the King, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral that he has.”

Andrew kept his rank as a vice admiral in 2022 when he gave up his other military positions.

Mr Healey would not comment on whether Andrew would be able to keep his medals, including the campaign medal he received for his service in the Falklands War, but said the Ministry of Defence would be “guided by the decisions the King makes”.

The Times has reported that Buckingham Palace has refused to rule out Andrew returning the medal he was awarded for his service as a Ryal Navy helicopter pilot in the 1982 war.

Andrew has been associated with the royal navy since 1979, when he began officer training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.

He subsequently served as a helicopter pilot and was part of the task force deployed to retake the Falklands following the Argentinian invasion in 1982.