NAVAL CAREER

The Duke of York served for over 20 years in the Royal Navy.

His Royal Highness joined the Royal Navy in 1979 on a short service commission, as a Seaman Officer specialising as a pilot.

He entered Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, where he took the full range of initial professional training. At the same time, he undertook the Royal Marine 'green beret' course with the Young Officers' batch of 1979 at the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone.

He was awarded his green beret the week before he passed out of Dartmouth in front of The Queen at the Lord High Admiral's Divisions.

After passing out of Dartmouth, Prince Andrew went on to elementary flying training with the Royal Air Force at RAF Leeming, Yorkshire, where he learnt to fly the Bulldog.

Afterwards he went through basic flying training with the Royal Navy at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose, Cornwall, where he learnt to fly the Gazelle helicopter. He received his wings from his father, The Duke of Edinburgh, in April 1981, as well as winning the award for the best pilot.

After converting onto the Sea King helicopter and conducting operational flying training, he joined his first front-line unit, 820 Naval Air Squadron, before embarking in the anti-submarine warfare carrier HMS INVINCIBLE.

Only six months later, Prince Andrew was to see active service. Along with his squadron, he sailed in HMS INVINCIBLE as part of the task force that sailed to the South Atlantic to regain the Falkland Islands.

Throughout the conflict he flew on various missions, including Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare search (ASUW). He also helped in casualty evacuation, transport and Search and Air Rescue (SAR).

After completing his first front-line tour in July 1983, Prince Andrew was appointed to 702 NAS at RNAS Portland in September to convert onto the Lynx helicopter. On promotion to Lieutenant in February 1984, The Queen appointed him a Personal Aide-de-Camp.

In May of that year, on completion of his conversion training, he joined 815 NAS as the Flight Pilot in the Type 22 Frigate HMS BRAZEN, where he served until March 1986.

The Lieutenant's Greenwich Course and Helicopter Warfare Instructors (HWI) Course continued the Prince's professional training. He returned to 702 NAS early in 1987 as a staff Helicopter Warfare Instructor.

In May 1988, having been selected for transfer to the General List for officers, he joined the Type 42 Destroyer HMS EDINBURGH as an Officer of the Watch to earn his Watchkeeping and Ocean Navigation Certificates, necessary for a General List officer.

After a year's seagoing appointment that included a deployment in the Far East and Australia, he was awarded his certificates.

He returned once again to RNAS Portland to form HMS CAMPBELTOWN Flight. He joined 829 NAS in September 1989 and served as Flight Commander until the autumn of 1991.

In 1992, The Duke of York was appointed to the Army Command and Staff Course at the Staff College, Camberley. In February 1992, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander.

On completion of the Staff Course he was selected to command the Hunt Class Minehunter HMS COTTESMORE from April 1993 until November 1994. The Duke of York returned to flying duties with a refresher course in 702 NAS, before taking up the appointment as Senior Pilot 815 NAS at RNAS Portland, where he served until October 1996.

In January 1997 The Duke of York was appointed to join the Ministry of Defence, London, as a staff officer in the Directorate of Naval Operations, with specific responsibility for Frigate and Destroyer aviation.

In January 1999, the Royal Navy announced that The Duke of York was to be promoted to Commander and take up an appointment within the Diplomacy Section of the Naval Staff.

In December 2000 it was announced that The Duke of York would conclude this appointment in April 2001. He formally left the Royal Navy at the end of July 2001.

In July 2005 His Royal Highness was promoted to Honorary Captain in the Royal Navy.