In a move that has gone largely unnoticed outside the islands, several plaques tied to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have quietly disappeared from public view in the Falkland Islands.
These were once proud markers celebrating his visits, his military service, and his connection to the community.
But after his recent fall from grace, officials on the islands—and in the UK—have been steadily removing reminders of his past role.
The Legacy He Once Held
Before everything unraveled, Andrew’s connection to the Falklands had been treated with great respect.
He served during the 1982 conflict and returned just a few years later to help open RAF Mount Pleasant, a vast £300 million airbase that symbolized Britain’s commitment to the islands.
Crowds gathered, cheering and waving signs that read “British forever,” as he unveiled a commemorative plaque with great ceremony.
The Titles Come Down, and So Do the Plaques
But the mood around the former Duke of York has shifted dramatically.
Last month, King Charles stripped his brother of all titles, styles, and honours because of Andrew’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Following that decision, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Falklands memorial at RAF Mount Pleasant had been removed, saying they were acting in line with the King’s wishes.
Schools and Charities Distance Themselves
It wasn’t just the airbase. Buildings Andrew had inaugurated during a visit to Stanley in 2002 have quietly erased his name as well.
The local Infant Junior School confirmed that the plaque he unveiled vanished from their walls and that Andrew is no longer connected to them in any capacity.
A similar story unfolded on New Island, where he once opened a field centre for the Falklands Conservation Trust.
Staff there say his patronage ended, and the physical plaque commemorating his involvement was taken down soon after.
Earlier Removals Foreshadowed the Present
Even before his most recent controversies, some institutions had already stepped back.
The King Edward Memorial Hospital removed a tablet bearing Andrew’s name back in 2022, shortly after he settled a civil case with Virginia Giuffre.
Epstein’s Shadow Reappears
Just as these removals became public, new details resurfaced about Jeffrey Epstein’s efforts to keep Andrew socially connected.
Emails from January 2010—sent just months after Epstein’s release from a Florida jail—show the disgraced financier encouraging biotech investor Boris Nikolic to meet up with Andrew at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
A Strange Email Exchange at Davos
Nikolic, who at the time was advising Bill Gates, shared in the emails that he’d already encountered several well-known political figures.
Epstein replied enthusiastically, telling him to meet Andrew, insisting they were friends, and claiming the former Duke of York was “great fun.”
Nikolic wasn’t convinced at first, even replying that he’d “heard Andrew is not that fun,” but Epstein persisted, urging him to enjoy himself.
The messages drifted into uncomfortable territory, with Nikolic joking about flirting with a young woman in Davos and making an inappropriate remark about her being “rented,” followed by a winking emoji.
Reporting Back to Epstein
After their eventual meeting, Nikolic emailed Epstein again, saying Andrew had been “great” and joking that perhaps he should swap Davos for a fashion week instead.
At that time, Andrew was in Switzerland as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment—a role he would step down from the following year.
A Reputation Rewritten
Taken together, the plaque removals and the resurfaced emails paint a picture of a public figure being quietly erased from spaces where he was once celebrated.
Places that once highlighted his visits now prefer not to be associated with him, and personal correspondence from Epstein only deepens the discomfort that has followed Andrew in recent years.
What Comes Next?
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