"He has lost his princehood, dukedom, Order of the Garter knighthood and military titles, but the former Duke of York, now Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, can at least keep his campaign medal awarded for active service during the 1982 Falklands conflict. The defence secretary, John Healey, had already confirmed Mountbatten Windsor would be stripped of his last remaining title, the honorary rank of vice-admiral, which he was given on his 55th birthday in 2015 and retained even after he lost other military positions in 2022."
"During the military conflict with Argentina over the Falkland Islands he was a Sea King helicopter co-pilot with one of his tasks being to act as a decoy for Argentina's Exocet missiles. He returned from the conflict a hero and was famously greeted at the end the gangplank in Portsmouth by his mother, Elizabeth II, who handed him a red rose, which he put between his teeth."
"He was awarded the South Atlantic Medal, known as the Falklands Medal, with an additional rosette for his actions. Falklands veterans have said it would be morally indefensible for a medal earned through active service to be taken away. Simon Weston, 64, who was severely burned when his troop transport RFA Sir Galahad was attacked during the conflict, told the Telegraph: He has lost all other aspects of dignity, respect and honour he was ever once shown."
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has lost his princehood, dukedom, Order of the Garter knighthood and several military titles while retaining a campaign medal from the 1982 Falklands conflict. The defence secretary indicated medals are awards for service and that decisions would follow royal guidance. Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles agreed that operational medals, including the South Atlantic medal, are not honours and may be retained. Mountbatten Windsor served 22 years in the Royal Navy, operated as a Sea King helicopter co-pilot during the conflict, and received the South Atlantic Medal with a rosette for his actions. Falklands veterans opposed removing such medals.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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