Prince Andrew has been in the spotlight recently as proud father of the bride at Princess Eugenie’s October royal wedding and at last week’s Royal Ascot with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess fo York. However, Andrew – born in 1960 – he was at the centre of kidnap plot involving several royal children. Biographer Andrew Morton, in his 1983 book “Andrew: The Playboy Prince”, writes about the security threat in 1971.
Mr Morton writes: “The fact that his life could never be completely normal was brought into sharp focus just before Andrew’s eleventh birthday.
“Special Branch had heard of a proposed IRA kidnap plot.
“Andrew or his cousin George, the Earl of St Andrews, were the possible victims.
“The plan was to hold them in exchange for the release of convicted terrorists.
Prince Andrew (Image: Getty)
Prince Andrew pictured in 1970 (Image: Getty)
“Gun-toting guards were drafted in and a round-the-clock watch was put on Andrew and his cousin.
“The Queen was informed and ordered that everything and everyone should behave as normal.
“In the end the plot did not materialise although the threat could not be ignored.”
George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews is the son of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and attended the same prep school as
