King Charles Draws 'a Line in the Sand' and Allows Andrew to Keep One Honor in Surprising Move

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and King Charles attend the Duchess of Kent's Requiem Mass service at Westminster Cathedral. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

Nov. 06 2025, Updated 10:55 AM. ET

King Charles proved his unwavering loyalty to the Crown when he stripped Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of all his royal titles. After years of tolerating his brother's scandals, the monarch had reached his limit. He also ordered the former Prince to vacate Royal Lodge, which had been a point of criticism for the monarchy. While many lauded him for taking the right decision, it appears he still holds a soft spot for his embattled brother. On November 4, the Palace confirmed that Charles had allowed Mountbatten Windsor to keep his Falklands War campaign medal.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend the Order of the Garter Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Peter Nicholls - WPA Pool) — Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and King Charles attend the Order of the Garter Service at St George's Chapel. (Image Source: Getty Images | Peter Nicholls - WPA Pool)

The surprising move came shortly after the Defense Secretary John Healey announced that the Government would revoke the former Prince's honorary vice admiral rank. However, when asked whether Mountbatten Windsor could retain his military medals, Healey clarified that the Ministry of Defense would act solely on the King's orders. The disgraced royal will also be keeping his other operational service medals.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, attends a commemoration service at Manchester Cathedral. (Image Source: Getty Images | Christopher Furlong - WPA Pool) — Andrew Mountbatten Windsor attends a commemoration service at Manchester Cathedral. (Image Source: Getty Images | Christopher Furlong - WPA Pool)

For those unversed, the former Duke of York served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, starting his commission as a sub-lieutenant in 1981. Remarkably, he joined the 820 Naval Air Squadron on HMS Invincible, and only nine weeks later, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in April 1982. At the time, the then 22-year-old Mountbatten Windsor flew as a Sea King helicopter co-pilot, carrying out anti-submarine patrols, medical evacuations, anti-surface warfare, and rescue operations. He also took on the risky role of diverting the Argentine Exocet missiles away from the aircraft carrier by acting as a decoy pilot.

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor Boarding Hms Brazen , A Royal Navy Destroyer Designed For Anti-submarine Operations. (Image Source: Getty Images | Tim Graham) — Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is boarding HMS Brazen, a Royal Navy destroyer designed for anti-submarine operations. (Image Source: Getty Images | Tim Graham Photo Library)

In honor of his contributions to the Navy, Mountbatten Windsor was awarded the South Atlantic Medal, also known as the Falklands Medal, with an additional rosette. While 33,000 Falklands Medals were distributed, only 3,300 included the honorary rosette. After news of his title loss became public, he found some unlikely allies in his fellow veterans, who defended the decision to let him keep the medal.

Veteran Simon Weston argued, "He has lost all other aspects of dignity, respect, and honor he was ever once shown. But the one thing you cannot strip away from the man, no matter how vindictive, vicious, or virtue-signaling you want to be, is that moment in his life where he was dignified, honorable, and courageous." He added, "It’s trivialising what the medal stands for. It’s not a gift. It’s something you earn. Who he has been involved with is abhorrent... but it’s not right to take his medal away.” He further stressed, "This is something that he earned from his own duty and action. That’s a line in the sand."