Twenty years ago at Portland Hospital in London, the Duchess of York gave birth to Beatrice Elizabeth Mary on August 8, 1988. She was born at 8:18 pm and weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces. Sarah and Andrew chose the name Beatrice in honour of Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter.
Princess Beatrice was christened at St. James Palace’s Chapel Royal on December 20, 1988. Her godparents are Peter Palumbo, Viscount Linley, Gabrielle Greenall, Carolyn Cotterell and the Duchess of Roxburghe. Since that time, the Duchess of Roxburghe divorced Guy Innes-Ker (Duke of Roxburghe) in 1990 and married her second husband, Edward Dawnay in 1996.
Sarah’s former roommate, Carolyn Cotterell, passed away in 1999 of skin cancer.
Queen Elizabeth II’s fifth grandchild and fifth in line to the British throne began her education at Upton House School. She then attended Coworth Park School and St. George’s School. She was diagnosed with the learning disability dyslexia.
Despite her royal upbringing, she mingles frequently with celebrities and socialites whilst dating her current boyfriend, David Clark. According to her father, the Duke of York, his daughter is grounded and down-to-earth which he credits to her mother, the former Duchess of York. Beatrice’s parents, Sarah and Prince Andrew, have been divorced since 1996.
Photos: REUTERS
The Duke of York embarked on a ten-day visit to the United States which began on February 6th. The Duke of York is a Special Representative for International Trade and Investment for the United Kingdom. He visited Florida, California, Arizona, Georgia and New York. Whilst fulfilling his business engagements in Georgia, he gave an interview to CNN reporter and anchor Hala Gorani. The prince returned to the United Kingdom on February 15th. Since 2001, he has traversed the globe promoting trade and investment for Great Britain after ending a 22-year stint with the Royal Navy.
Below is a clip of Prince Andrew’s interview with CNN reporter and anchor Hala Gorani.
After Queen Elizabeth II's Christmas Day speech, ITV1 will air the documentary Lights! Camera! The Queen! at 3:10pm which will include an interview with Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.
A preview of the documentary, Lights! Camera! The Queen!, can be viewed here.
The Royalist article, Andrew Reveals A Royal Christmas Secret, can be read here.
In remembrance of the veterans who fought in the Falkland Islands twenty-five years ago, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York writes the following:
"I salute our servicemen then and now"
"I am not a war correspondent, but a veteran of a campaign to recover the Falkland Islands from what was a friendly nation, Argentina, whose leadership embarked upon an expedition to forcibly take a group of British islands in the South Atlantic, 8,000 miles from here."
"I wrote on the occasion of the 20th anniversary: "The experience of war is one of the most life-changing experiences anyone can have." I haven't changed my opinion of this immutable fact. I am sure that those who have experienced the current conflicts in which we are engaged as a nation would agree."
"My prayers and thoughts go to all the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones as a result of the Falklands conflict, and as a result of the conflicts we now find ourselves engaged in."
"Without doubt, the nature of conflict has changed since I was at war. When we set off for the Falklands, in 1982, circumstances were completely different from those we find ourselves in today."
"Back then, it was a clear case of British territory being invaded by an aggressor nation. It is just as clear to me now that it was our duty to go those 8,000 miles to recover those islands."
"We were dispatched, as I remember it, with a great sense of national pride. We were on a recovery mission, plain and simple. The circumstances in which our Armed Services find themselves today are far from those of 25 years ago and a great deal more complex and contentious."
"I have previously said about the Falklands war: "There was a knowledge that war was not as glamorous as depicted in war films - it was dirty; it was exhausting; and it was monotonous. People really bled and death might be a consequence." Today, our Armed Services and their families fully understand this reality."
"In 1982, as a nation, we supported our troops as they "yomped" across the Falkland Islands to take back Port Stanley. The fighting around the islands' capital was fierce and often hand-to-hand. But the conflicts we find ourselves engaged in today are so different from the one I fought in that it is almost impossible to relate the differing circumstances."
"It is only because of my continued personal relationships with naval and military units, and because I have visited Iraq on two occasions, that I have an understanding of what our Servicemen and women are facing today."
"I recall there was a poster slogan from the Second World War: "Careless Talk Costs Lives". It is true today. And in my opinion it is even more vital today because of the advances in media communications, 24-hour news channels and internet connectivity."
"Free information given to an enemy predisposed to target an individual or British troops in general gives me genuine cause for concern about any speculation on operational deployments or plans."
"In my experience in the Falklands, and since, it is vital that we try to avoid this potential gift to the enemy."
"Today our Armed Services are in harm's way and, whatever your view about the rights and wrongs of our involvement, our men and women serving in these inhospitable places need our support."
"Five years ago I also wrote: "camaraderie is a sense of wellbeing among people who have gone through similar experiences that are hard to communicate to others. I found that, in my squadron, there was a high degree of camaraderie, as we were experiencing the same things every day. That feeling can never be taken away from us and we will always have that special connection or bond."
"I recently held a reunion dinner for those of us who served in 820 Naval Air Squadron and Invincible and I can truly say that that bond is as evident today as it was 25 years ago."
"On Sunday, many of us Falkland veterans will be on Horse Guards to commemorate that event and, at the same time, go some way to recognising the people of this great nation for their support as we toiled all those miles away."
"In this way, we can demonstrate our thanks for the unlimited support we received, as was shown when we departed Portsmouth at the beginning of April and on our return in August."
"As for my contribution 25 years ago; I went to the Falklands as a small cog in a huge machine. I was not special when it came to the totality of the Falklands campaign. It was just that I am who I am and as a consequence, there was a greater interest."
"I was privileged to serve with so many wonderful other "small cogs". The ultimate reason we won was that we were able to make all those cogs work together as a team more successfully than our enemy. Wars are won by teamwork, dedication to the task and loyalty to the cause."
"In 2007, I salute my colleagues from 25 years ago for their heroism and sacrifice. It is one hell of a lot more difficult today for our current Armed Services, who continue to hold the torch and lead the way in succession to us."
"I salute your bravery, loyalty and devotion to duty in the face of an unquestionably dangerous opposition and in circumstances well beyond the understanding of many people"
