The former Prince Andrew was hailed as a hero after the 1982 Falklands War (Image: Getty)
People in the Falkland Islands have said Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s disgrace has caused embarrassment in the very place where he had been considered a hero. The former prince fought during Argentina’s attempted invasion of the British overseas territory in the South Atlantic in 1982 as a sub-lieutenant and Sea King helicopter pilot in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Invincible. King Charles III’s brother flew front-line missions, acting as a decoy for Exocet missiles.
Alistair Jacobson, who has run The Victory pub in Stanley with his wife, Cathy, 67, for more than 40 years, told the Express: “I’ve never heard anybody talk about him [lately]; [he’s become a] bit of an embarrassment, really.”
The landlord was there when the future Duke of York opened Mount Pleasant Airport in 1985. “I think the whole town went there to see the opening of the airport,” Mr Jacobson said.
He added, regarding Andrew’s life since then: “He just got caught out, didn’t he?” Cathy added: “To be fair, he doesn’t come up in conversation very often.
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Cathy and Alistair run The Victory pub (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
“I think he’s been silly; he’s been a real fool to himself, but did he know what he was like when he met this fellow [Epstein]?
“It’s a shame. I feel sorry for the royals now, William and Catherine, the ones that are not guilty of any of this.
“They’re getting dragged down as well, which is a shame.”
Coleen Biggs, 75, a volunteer at the islands’ museum, who moved from London to the Falklands in 2002, said: “I think we should remember that he hasn’t actually been convicted of crimes.
“I think we should bear that in mind.”
If he were, she added, “he should suffer the same sort of punishment as any other member of the public”.
When asked if some people still had warm feelings about him on the islands, Ms Biggs said: “I think so.
“But, of course, mention of him has been removed from various official places, because it would cause the wrong sort of reaction.”
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The war memorial in Stanley (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
A wall hanging was removed from Mount Pleasant Airport, The Mirror reported.
Ms Biggs mentioned that a plaque at Stanley’s hospital had also been taken down, in 2022.
In addition, a plaque at the Falklands Conservation Trust’s field centre has been removed.
However, Ms Biggs argued that people should save their condemnation of Andrew for when they know if he is found guilty of any crimes.
The Falkland Islands remain extremely grateful to veterans.
Jack Ford MLA, the Chair of the islands’ Legislative Assembly, said: “He, like all veterans, made an incredibly important contribution to the conflict, and something that we as a nation have remained incredibly grateful for.
“It’s all of them [veterans]; I think you’ve seen that during your time here.
“The appreciation shown and the warmth shown to those who fought to protect our freedom.
“It’s very much alive and right across the the community.
“And, of course, we’ve watched these things emerge about the situation, as the world has, and the process is taking its course.”
He and everyone else is waiting to see the outcome, Mr Ford added.
Andrew was arrested last month at his new home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and released under investigation on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Police held him in custody for 11 hours. He has previously denied any wrongdoing.