Falklands naval hero sunk by a broadside of scandals

PRINCE Andrew was seen as the military hero of the Royal Family and described as the Queen’s favourite son.

The Duke of York secured a short service commission in the Royal Navy as a Seaman Officer and trained as a helicopter pilot.

He was also awarded a Green Beret after completing the Royal Marine Commando course in 1979 and carried out his duty under enemy fire in the FalklandsWar.That was his finest hour.

But despite the dashing military man image,Andrew’s life has become increasingly dogged by controversy and scandal.

The Duke, who is 60 in less than two weeks, has agreed to decline automatic promotion to Admiral.

Toes

He became Rear Admiral on his 50th birthday and Vice Admiral at the age of 55.

The Queen’s second son was born on February 19, 1960 and was educated at Gordonstoun.

He left with A levels in English, history and economics and joined the Senior Service in 1979.

In the war with Argentina in 1982 he flew on multiple missions, including anti-surface warfare, Exocet missile decoy and casualty evacuation.

In his romantic life, he was dubbed “Randy Andy” after meeting glamorous actress Koo Stark.They were close for two years.

Four years later in 1986,Andrew wed Sarah Ferguson and their marriage breakdown and divorce in 1996 attracted much media coverage.

Sarah was also pictured apparently having her toes sucked by her financial adviser, John Bryan, in 1992.

In 1997,Andrew was appointed to the Ministry of Defence as a staff officer in the Directorate of Naval Operations.

After leaving the Navy, he appeared to hone a playboy image as Britain’s

“Special Representative for International Trade and Investment”. But his friendship with US paedophile Jeffrey Epstein would be his undoing.That and subsequent claims he slept with then 17-year-oldVirginia Roberts – which he denies – have come back to haunt him.

After a “disastrous” Newsnight TV interview, he suspended public duties for the “foreseeable future” in November.