Andrew is Nearing His Pension Age — but There's One Major Problem

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor turns 66 on February 19, making him eligible for the UK state pension. While that places him ahead of millions who will have to wait longer as the pension age rises to 67 from April 2026, eligibility does not automatically mean he will receive the full amount.

To receive the full weekly state pension of $317, an individual must have at least 35 years of National Insurance contributions. Mountbatten-Windsor’s working life falls well short of that threshold. He served 22 years in the Royal Navy, and unless he made significant voluntary contributions along the way, that record would entitle him to roughly 22/35 of the full amount—about $206 per week. State pensions are paid for life and rise each year. How much someone receives depends on how many qualifying years of National Insurance contributions they have built up.

The situation was highlighted by columnist Ephraim Hardcastle in the Daily Mail (via Scottish Daily Express), who noted the irony. “Should Andrew MW consider his glass half-full, he might raise a feeble hurrah for the arrival of his old age pension next month,” he said, adding, “Alas, when celebrating his 66th birthday, he won’t be getting the full whack of £230 [$317] a week… Maybe he should revert to the glass half-empty option instead.”

The contrast with his older brother is also notable. King Charles qualified for his state pension back in 2013, when the pension age for men was still 65. Clarence House confirmed at the time that Charles had topped up his National Insurance record with voluntary contributions, in addition to five years of service in the Royal Navy, allowing him to claim the full amount. However, courtiers also made clear that Charles would not personally benefit. His pension has been donated to Age UK, a charity supporting older people, an arrangement that continues to this day.

However, whether the disgraced former Prince will claim his pension remains unclear. When asked about the matter in November, a royal source told The Telegraph, “It’s up to him.”

Tom Selby, director of public policy at investment platform AJ Bell, explained the mechanics behind his entitlement. “Like millions of people, Andrew will be entitled to the state pension based on the number of National Insurance qualifying years he built up while working. Based on his employment record, that should mean he is entitled to around £9,000 [$12,399] a year, although it will be up to the former prince whether he chooses to claim this or not," Selby said.

Calculating state pension entitlements can be complex, particularly for those with older private arrangements made before the 2016 reforms. In Mountbatten-Windsor’s case, there is also a separate Navy pension, estimated to be worth around $27,554 a year. It might be worthy of a mention that the King also agreed to reinstate his annuity and will fund his upkeep from his own private purse in return for his leaving Royal Lodge, a Crown Estate property, and moving to live on the privately owned Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

He will also receive a one-off, six-figure relocation fee. However, the true extent of Mountbatten-Windsor's wealth has never been clear. One source who spoke to the Telegraph described it as being “shrouded in a pea soup of impenetrability.”