Duke’s ties to NZ Army remain intact
The Government has ‘‘no current plan’’ to review the New Zealand Army’s association with Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, the Prime Minister’s office says.
The embattled prince, who has stepped back from public duties in the wake of a scandal around his association with American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (RNZALR), known as ‘‘The Duke of York’s Own.’’
A New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson declined to answer questions about how the Army would defend an ongoing relationship with the Prince.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday morning said there was no current plan to review Prince Andrew’s role, and declined to say whether that may change in the future.
The regiment’s banner is called the Prince Andrew Banner and was officially presented by the Duke of York at Linton Military Camp, Palmerston North, in 1998.
The regiment was created in 1996 and is responsible for supply and distribution of everything the Army needs to perform its duties, including food, ammunition, fuel and tents.
It replaced three separate Corps that had previously provided logistic support to the Army. It currently comprises of two battalions, each with a number of units.
Prince Andrew most recently visited the RNZALR during his last official tour to New Zealand in 2005. He visited battalions based at Linton and also Trentham Military Camp in Wellington, and on the same trip attended a dedication to the thennew west end windows at Nelson’s Christ Church Cathedral.
Prior to the regiment’s establishment, in 1990, Prince Andrew was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.
The Queen created the honour in acknowledgement of the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and other members of the royal family are among the 3000 recipients.
The Royal New Zealand Army and the Honours Unit at Government House have been approached for comment.