Former Prince Andrew is currently facing criticism and fallout from his past actions, but one expert said there’s one thing he doesn’t deserve to lose: his Falklands War medal.
The former Duke of York was stripped of his royal titles, military honours and his residence, the Royal Lodge, due to his past ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
However, writing for The Express, Conor Wilson argued that while Andrew is responsible for the situation he’s in, his wartime medal should not be touched.
Wilson said medals earned in real combat are not ceremonial awards but recognition of someone putting their life on the line, and Andrew served with genuine risk during the Falklands conflict.
“It is worth noting, as ever, that he denies all allegations against him, and he has never been found guilty of illegality. But even if he is innocent of all the claims against him, he deserves everything that has happened to him,” penned the commentator.
He continued, “However, those calling for him to be stripped of his medal earned during the Falklands War know nothing of the significance of honours earned on operations.
“For a man born into a life of privilege, who by all accounts took full advantage of the benefits that come with being the monarch’s third-born child, his service during the conflict remains the one thing in his life that Andrew can be proud of.”
Wilson said that medals “earned on operations are not daft military honours or ceremonial ranks as are held by most senior royals to varying degrees and often given out like confetti.”
“They signify the ultimate commitment to a country one can make, the willingness to fight and potentially die for one's nation or one's comrades.
“Regardless of his actions after the conflict, even the most harsh critic can not erase the realities of history.
“Andrew not only served but did so with distinction, putting himself in harm's way to defend troops and reclaim British territory from a brutal dictatorship.”
