HRH The Duke of York

“I am delighted to support the development of junior golf through this event and look forward to welcoming the 2010 junior champion golfers to Royal St. George’s in September.

It is through this sort of competition that future great golfers, both professional and amateur, will be identified and encouraged. There are so many talented young sports people and I am determined to assist with their endeavours.”

Brief Biography:

  • Title: High Royal Highness, The Duke of York, KG
  • Born: Prince Andrew on 19th February 1960 at Buckingham Palace, London, 3rd child and 2nd son to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh
  • Royal Status: 4th in line to the British Throne
  • Marriage: Married Sarah (nee Ferguson), Duchess of York in 1986, divorced 1996
  • Family: 2 daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, born 1988 and 1990
  • Educated: Gordonstoun, Scotland and Lakefield College School, Canada
  • Career: 1979-2001 Royal Navy; from 2001 the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment.

Official Public and Royal Duties:

  • As the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, His Royal Highness promotes the UK as an attractive inward investment destination for foreign investors, helps to create more positive business conditions for British businesses investing overseas and assists UK companies export their products to emerging and established markets
  • In addition to engagements as Special Representative, The Duke also carries out engagements in support of The Queen representing the UK at official ceremonies both home and overseas and as Patron of more than 120 organisations
  • The Duke of York holds two Naval Service appointments, five in the British Army, one in the Royal Air Force and is Colonel-in-Chief of four Commonwealth regiments
  • In 2008 His Royal Highness fulfilled 628 official engagements of which 529 were as Special Representative and included 377 overseas engagements.

Involvement with Golf:

  • Patron and co-founder with John Simpson of The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy and The Duke of York Sports Foundation
  • Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in its 250th anniversary year (2003-4) and a member of the Amateur Status Committee
  • President of The Faldo Junior Series
  • President of The Royal Household Golf Club, Patron of 12 royal golf clubs (including Royal Liverpool, Royal Blackheath and Royal Cinque Ports) and Patron of a further 12 Golf Clubs and Golf Societies including The Golf Foundation
  • Keen sportsman with current golf handicap of 4
  • Works to encourage greater participation of young people in the game and the development of golf worldwide.

HRH The Duke of York talks about the 2009 Tournament