Prince Andrew will be ‘riled and upset’ as he is stopped from attending Falklands 40th anniversary memorial event while his sister Anne and her husband are sent in place of the Duke – who served in the conflict
- Princess Anne to visit Falklands Islands between November 17 and November 22
- Royal visit is on the 40th anniversary of the end of the 1982 Falklands conflict
- But there will be no space on the royal trip for Falklands veteran Prince Andrew
- Author Phil Dampier says Prince Andrew will be ‘upset’ at not being on the trip
Falklands veteran Prince Andrew will be ‘riled and upset’ not be involved in Princess Anne’s visit to the islands to mark the 40th anniversary of the conflict, a royal expert has today claimed.
The Princess Royal will travel to the South Pacific with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, for a six day visit of the British oversees territory later this month.
Her visit comes 40 years after the islands were invaded and then liberated from Argentina during the 10-week Falklands War, which ended in June 14, 1982.
But while Princess Anne and her husband will visit on behalf of the royal family, it is understood that Prince Andrew will not be with them.
The Duke of York, 62, served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot during the conflict, flying multiple missions including anti-surface warfare, casualty evacuation, and Exocet missile decoy.
But he has been banned from front-line royal duties since facing sex assault allegations in the US by Jeffrey Epstein trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre.
Prince Andrew, who agreed a £12million deal with Ms Giuffre to settle her US lawsuit earlier this year, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
However, according to one royal expert, Prince Andrew will be ‘very upset’ not to take part in any events to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands.
Author and journalist Phil Dampier, who has been writing about the Royal Family for more than 25 years, today told MailOnline: ‘I believe that he wanted to but it was made clear to him that there was no way he could be involved as he is no longer a working royal in public life.
The Princess Royal will travel to the South Pacific with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence (pictured here with Princess Anne), for a six day visit of the British oversees territory later this month.
But while Princess Anne and her husband will visit on behalf of the royal family, it is understood that Prince Andrew will not be with them – at least not in any official capacity. Pictured: Prince Andrew with his mother The Queen in 2019
The Duke of York, 62, served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War. He flew on multiple missions including anti-surface warfare, casualty evacuation, and Exocet missile decoy. Pictured:
‘Because he is now in disgrace following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, people forget that Andrew returned from the South Atlantic a hero.
‘He put his life on the line flying helicopters as a decoy for Exocet missiles which were causing immense damage to the British fleet.
‘The Queen was worried sick about him and was so relieved when he returned home safely.
‘In fact when he came back to Portsmouth with, famously, a rose between his teeth, his parents were there to greet him but also his sister Princess Anne. So its even more poignant that she is going down there.’
He added: ‘I’m sure she will feel sorry for Andrew but The King and the Prince of Wales have made it clear that there is no way back for him, at least in the near future.
Author and journalist Phil Dampier (pictured), who has been writing about the Royal Family for more than 25 years, today told MailOnline: ‘I believe that he wanted to but it was made clear to him that there was no way he could be involved as he is no longer a working royal in public life.’
‘Whether some sort of role with a charity or cause can be found at a later date only time will tell. But missing out on Falklands events will really rile him.’
It is understood Princess Anne’s visit will be as part of the year-long calendar of events for the 40th anniversary – which was officially marked on the day by a remembrance ceremony earlier this year.
Princess Anne and Sir Tim will visit the islands between November 17 and 22. A full schedule of events for the trip has not yet been released.
The 10-week conflict started on April 2, 1982, when Argentina’s then military leader Leopoldo Galtieri send in troops to invade the Falkland Islands, followed by South Georgia the next day.
The invasion followed years of dispute between Britain and Argentina, who maintain the islands are Argentinian territory.
They have been a Crown colony since 1841 and those who live on the island are predominantly of British descent and still to this day favour British sovereignty.
Following the invasion, the British Government dispatched a naval task force to engage Argentina’s invasion.
During a 74 day conflict, which was never formally declared as a war by either country, more than 900 people were killed – two thirds from Argentina’s force – with thousands of others wounded.
Prince Andrew, who served in the conflict with the Royal Navy, famously returned to a hero’s welcome when he arrived back in Portsmouth. As he stepped off HMS Invincible with a rose in his mouth, he was met by his mother, The Queen, his father, Prince Philip and his sister, Princess Anne
Pictured: A Royal Navy Westland Sea King HC.4 of 825 Naval Air Squadron takes off after transporting J Company, 42 Commando, Royal Marines from Port San Carlos to Darwin, June 1982, during the Falklands Conflict
It will not be Princess Anne’s first visit to the islands. She visited the Falklands, along with South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, in 2016 to mark the 100th anniversary of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance expedition
The Princess Royal will travel to the South Pacific with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, for a six day visit of the British oversees territory later this month.
The conflict ended with Britain liberating the islands – and later the downfall of Galtieri’s ruling military government – with the Government continuing to operate as a self-governing British overseas territory to this day.
Prince Andrew, who served in the conflict with the Royal Navy, famously returned to a hero’s welcome when he arrived back in Portsmouth.
As he stepped off HMS Invincible with a rose in his mouth, he was met by his mother, The Queen, his father, Prince Philip and his sister, Princess Anne.
It will not be Princess Anne’s first visit to the islands.
She visited the Falklands, along with South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, in 2016 to mark the 100th anniversary of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance expedition.
EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Andrew’s nervous wait to find out King Charles’ decision on funding him from the royal purse
By Ephraim Hardcastle for the Daily Mail
Does Prince Andrew nervously pace the corridors of the Royal Lodge awaiting the King’s review of the family finances?
The Queen funded working royals from her Duchy of Lancaster income. She also made provision for the redundant Andrew.
Whilst word is that Charles will finance working royals on the same terms as his mother, the funding of Andrew is not as certain.
And the Falkland veteran’s mood will not be enhanced by Princess Anne, rather than himself, flying to the South Atlantic to attend the 40th anniversary celebrations of the ending of the conflict.
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