Flying gloves worn by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during Falklands War go on sale for £2,000
The flying gloves worn by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during the Falklands War are on sale for £2,000.
The former prince reached the peak of his popularity after piloting a helicopter during the 1982 conflict.
He donated the leather gloves to a charity auction for the Falklands Appeal and South Atlantic Fund that year.
The signed gloves are selling for an estimated £1,000 to £2,000 at Reeman Dansie auctioneers in Colchester, Essex.
They arrive with an apology from Andrew’s equestrian, explaining that he cannot attend the charity auction as he did with the Queen.
Andrew learned to fly Sea Kings and joined 820 Naval Air Squadron on the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible in 1982. The ship was sent to the South Atlantic in April after Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands.
He flew anti-submarine missions, missile decoy operations and casualty evacuations and was described by Commander Nigel Ward as ‘an excellent pilot and a very promising officer’.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was on board HMS Invincible during the Falklands War, where he served as a helicopter pilot
Andrew’s signed gloves will sell for an estimated £1,000 to £2,000 at auction in June
Auctioneers say the gloves that went under the hammer on June 9 are reminiscent of a time before they fell out of favor.
Auctioneer James Grinter said: ‘The gloves are worn and soiled from flight operations.
‘Andrew was quite respected at the time. It was unthinkable then that he would be disgraced for his subsequent behavior.’
Andrew’s name was removed from commemorative plaques in the Falklands after King Charles stripped him of his royal status last year.
