I’ve been thinking about envy as His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron of Killyleagh, was reduced to the simple status of Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten Windsor.
Published: 6 November 2025
Gone too are his military titles: Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Lossiemouth, Colonel-in-chief of the Royal Irish Regiment, Colonel-in-chief of the Small Arms School Corps, Colonel-in-chief of The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth’s Own), Colonel-in-chief of the Yorkshire Regiment, Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers and Royal Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Then there are his overseas honorary roles including Colonel-in-chief of The Royal Highland Fusiliers Of Canada, Colonel-in-chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment, Colonel-in-chief of the Princess Louise Fusiliers of Canada, and Colonel-in-chief of the Queen’s York Rangers (1st American Regiment).
I’m pro-monarchy, but I never cared for Andrew.
However, I deeply dislike the cruelty being displayed in the coverage of his downfall and the delight in his humiliation.
It is a frequent characteristic of the second son in royal and aristocratic families – where the eldest male child scoops the honours and the inheritance – that he feels cheated.
There were innumerable angry sons in English history who took to the sword.
Prince Harry took to the assassination by pen.
As far as I can see, dull rather charmless Andrew was in no way vengeful.
He found his consolation in rank and the deference of others, and generally swanking around in robes and uniforms.
He also justified his existence by doing his royal duty and being kind to his wife (even after divorce) and his two daughters, whose status he fiercely protected.
He is given little credit for his professional achievements.
Not academic, he worked hard enough to pass his A-Levels and get through officer training in the Royal Naval College, become a commando in the Royal Marines, and become a very accomplished pilot.
During the Falklands War, he flew numerous dangerous missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, Exocet missile decoy operations, search and rescue and much more.
By the time he left the Navy after a 22-year career he was a commander.
I watched a long interview with him post-Falklands.
He didn’t brag. He talked about doing his duty.
And when Windsor Castle went up in flames in 1992 he was conspicuously brave and effective in taking a leadership role in the successful evacuation of priceless treasures.
He and Sarah Ferguson had only about 40 days a year together during the first five years of their marriage, which did not long survive.
The Seven Deadly Sins are pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust.
Andrew was, I guess, guilty of pride, which is defined as an excessive love of self or the desire to be better or more important than others.
He liked pretty girls but has been convicted of nothing, yet is losing every honour he cherishes including his home, and there is now pressure for him to lose his earned position as Vice-Admiral.
He is a victim of envy – “A sad or resentful covetousness toward the traits, possessions, happiness, or abilities of another person”.
Being part of that mob seems ignoble to me.
