LONDON: Britain’s Prince Andrew is to defer an honorary Royal Navy promotion after he stepped back from full royal duties over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Buckingham Palace said Friday. The former naval officer, who saw service as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 war with Argentina in the Falklands Islands, was set to become an admiral for his 60th birthday on February 19. But a palace spokeswoman said Andrew would push back the promotion until he can resume full royal duties. “By convention, the Duke of York (Andrew) would be in line for military promotion on his 60th birthday,” the spokeswoman said. The landmark birthday comes weeks after a backlash against Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, for a television interview in which he defended his friendship with Epstein.

Source: New Strait Times February 07, 2020 10:30 UTC