Prince Andrew has been thrust back into the headlines after shocking claims emerged that he narrowly escaped at least two assassination attempts in the years following his military service in the Falklands War.
The explosive revelations come from historian Andrew Lownie, whose new book Entitled The Rise and Fall of the House of York delves into the Duke of York’s turbulent life and scandals. The biography uncovers how the younger brother of King Charles was allegedly targeted by both foreign enemies and domestic terrorists.
According to the book, the first serious assassination plot came directly from the Argentine military junta. Furious over their defeat in the 1982 Falklands conflict, Argentina allegedly considered sending elite commandos to kill Prince Andrew while he vacationed with his then girlfriend, actress Koo Stark.
“The Argentine junta actively explored an assassination mission against Andrew after the Falklands,” Lownie revealed. He explained that Andrew’s highly visible role as a helicopter pilot during the war made him a “symbolic target” in the eyes of Argentina’s leaders.
When Andrew traveled to the Caribbean island of Mustique with Stark, intelligence sources suggested that Argentina contemplated sending a submarine filled with special forces to eliminate him. “It was never executed, but it was seriously considered,” the historian emphasized.
The alleged plot never materialized, but it highlights how high risk Prince Andrew’s position became after his wartime service. His image as a brave young pilot had made him a hero in Britain but also a dangerous enemy to Argentina.
Lownie’s book also uncovers a second assassination plot, this one much closer to home. He claims that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) had targeted Prince Andrew during a golf outing.
“There were also plots by the IRA. One of the most credible involved an attempt to kill him on the golf course,” Lownie explained. He added that Andrew’s relaxed approach to his own security often left him vulnerable, making him an easier target than other senior royals.
The historian said these were only two of many threats that followed the Duke of York throughout his life. His military background, high profile relationships, and controversial behavior meant that enemies regularly looked for ways to exploit his vulnerabilities.
Read More: Prince William Faces Urgent Royal Warning After Shock Move With Kate Middleton
Prince Andrew’s service in the Falklands War remains one of the defining moments of his public life. At just 22 years old, he served as a helicopter pilot in the conflict, which lasted 74 days and claimed the lives of 649 Argentinians and 255 British personnel.
Upon returning to Britain, Andrew was celebrated as a war hero. His bravery in dangerous missions, including anti missile maneuvers and rescue operations, earned him both public admiration and media attention.
However, his postwar vacation with Koo Stark generated a frenzy of tabloid coverage. The actress was considered unsuitable by the royal establishment, and their relationship became a source of gossip and disapproval. The attention only heightened his visibility and, according to the book, made him an even more tempting target.
Lownie’s revelations shed light on a rarely discussed chapter in Andrew’s life, one that portrays him as both heroic and reckless. While he survived the Falklands unscathed, his relaxed attitude toward personal protection nearly left him exposed to lethal plots.
Today, Prince Andrew is better known for controversy surrounding his connections to Jeffrey Epstein and his withdrawal from public duties. Yet the book serves as a reminder that his royal life has long been overshadowed by drama, danger, and scandal.
The assassination plots may have failed, but they reveal how close the monarchy came to losing one of its most visible young members in the 1980s. For Andrew, surviving the war was just the beginning of a life that would be defined as much by risk and scandal as by service
