The Duke of York has been promoted to the rank of vice-admiral, according to the latest Royal Navy appointments published in the London Gazette. The notice stated: “Her Majesty The Queen has graciously agreed that: Rear Admiral His Royal Highness The Duke of York KG GCVO ADC be promoted Vice Admiral with effect from 19 February 2015.”
The news will come as a welcome distraction for Prince Andrew, who has had to put up with a fair deal of unpleasantness recently, after allegations by Virginia Roberts that she was set up to have sex with him by the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. However, vice-admiral is not the most suitable rank, given the circumstances: the satirists might spot that one.
A royal source said it was