Early Life & Education

The Duke of York was born on 19th February 1960 at Buckingham Palace and is the second son and the third child of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. HRH was the first child to be born to a reigning monarch for 103 years. Christened Andrew Albert Christian Edward, he was titled The Prince Andrew until his marriage, when he was created The Duke of York, The Earl of Inverness and The Baron Killyleagh.

 

The Duke spent his early life at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. HRH was taught initially at Buckingham Palace by a governess, continuing his education at Heatherdown Preparatory School, Ascot rom the age of eight. . The Duke then moved to Gordonstoun School in Morayshire, Scotland when he was 13, where his father and brothers were also educated.After completing his O Levels, HRH spent two terms in 1977 at Lakefield College School in Ontario, Canada, on a Round Square Exchange Programme.

The Duke then returned to Gordonstoun to complete his A Levels, after which HRH joined the Royal Navy with the ambition of becoming a helicopter pilot.

The Duke became interested in sport at an early age and played football, representing Heatherdown School at Rugby and Cricket earning his cricket colours. At Gordonstoun, HRH played rugby, field hockey, and captained the 1st XI cricket team in his final year. The Duke continued to play hockey at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, and played squash for various ships’ teams. Later, whilst Flight Commander in HMS CAMPBELTOWN, HRH developed an interest in Golf.

As a child, The Duke watched his father, The Duke of Edinburgh, flying helicopters, which stimulated his interest in flying. At Gordonstoun, HRH joined the Air Training Corps and learnt to fly gliders. The Duke undertook Parachute Training with the RAF achieving his Parachute wings in April 1978. Prior to joining the Royal Navy he conducted Naval Flying Grading Training. HRH flew solo in a Chipmonk aircraft for the first time on Friday 13th April 1979.