It’s tempting to think that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was fated to disgrace the royal family. But what if there were a what-if?

By Sidney Blumenthal

In 1979, the pampered, juvenile, and fun-loving second son of Queen Elizabeth II entered Britannia Royal Naval College with the rank of midshipman. By 1981, the youthful Prince Andrew had completed his training in the Royal Marines All-Arms Commando Course and was promoted to the rank of sub-lieutenant.

The following year, Britain and Argentina clashed in the Falklands War. Despite internal efforts to shift Andrew to a safe desk job, he took an assignment in the war zone on the H.M.S. Invincible. Though he would be in harm’s way, his mother agreed with the decision. He flew as co-pilot on Sea King helicopters to decoy Argentinean jets firing Exocet missiles at his ship. One of the Exocets sank the H.M.S. READ ON