Fmr Prince Andrew’s Medals: Which Were Earned, Which Were Stripped and Why

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, is well known for his Royal Navy service and his operational role in the Falklands War (1982). Serving as a Sea King helicopter pilot aboard HMS Invincible, he carried out missions including search and rescue, casualty evacuation, and anti-submarine warfare during an active conflict in the South Atlantic. His deployment was historically notable as one of the rare instances of a member of the British Royal Family serving in a modern combat zone.

For his wartime service, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received the South Atlantic Medal with rosette, along with later jubilee and commemorative medals connected to royal service. He also held senior orders and decorations, including the Order of the Garter and the Royal Victorian Order, which are traditionally granted by the monarch for service to the Crown. In recent years, however, significant public controversy has surrounded the stripping of his honorary military titles and royal patronages, leading to confusion and debate about which awards, ranks, and decorations were removed, which remained, and why these decisions were made. We explore his topic in this video.

Sources: Falklands The Air War (British Aviation Research Group), The Gazette