Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson in 1986, in their spectacular royal wedding at Westminster Abbey. They soon welcomed Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and the family was recently pictured happy and reunited at Eugenie’s own royal wedding in October 2018. However, in 1982, when Andrew was second-in-line to the throne behind his older brother Prince Charles, he was the star attraction of the Royal Family, even prompting fits of fainting in the street.

Andrew Morton in his 1983 book “Andrew: The Playboy Prince” takes a look at the phenomenon which was likened to Beatlemania and peaked after Andrew returned from military action in the Falkland’s War.

The prince switched on the famous Regent Street Christmas lights that year, and drew an adoring crowd. 

Mr Morton writes: “It was only Andrew’s second public speaking engagement and the first time he had had to endure the ordeal of speaking live in front of the TV cameras.

“If he was nervous it didn’t show.”

After the 22-year-old  prince had switched on the Christmas lights and made a speech in front of the cheering crowd, he retired inside for a reception but the crowd wanted more. 

Mr Morton continues: “The crowd chanted ‘We want Andy’ and ignored a police inspector who used a loudhailer in a vain attempt to get Andrew’s fan club to move in order to clear a path for the traffic which by now had formed a jam of epic proportions.

“Girls started screaming in anticipation if anyone so much as went near the balcony.

“Near hysteria gripped the tightly-packed throng.

“Several girls fainted and had to be passed over the heads of others before they reached the safety of the crash barriers. 

“Shaken and bemused, they were comforted by policewomen who normally expect this kind of behaviour at pop concerts. 

“When Andrew finally emerged on the street the crowd went wild.

“Andymania had hit Britain.”

Mr Morton spoke to the manager of the Jaegar shop that had hosted the the switching-on ceremony.

He said: “It’s absolutely amazing, I’ve not seen anything like this since the days of Beatlemania.”

Mr Morton concludes: “His arrival on the scene has given a new meaning to the intial HRH.

“With Andrew they stand for HIs Royal Heartthrob.”

However, his younger brother’s soaring popularity did not go down well with Prince Charles.

Biographer Anthony Holden, in “Charles, Prince of Wales”, writes: “Prince Andrew’s dashing good looks began to steal some of Charles’ thunder, wounding his vanity and causing a few acid remarks.”

Charles, when asked about his brother, reportedly responded: ”Ah, the one with the Robert Redford looks?”

Meanwhile, royal biographer Gyles Brandreth suggests that Charles’ jealousy was piqued because he missed out active military service, while Andrew won glory for his Falklands exploits.

In his 2005 book “Charles and Camilla”, Mr Brandreth writes: “At the time of the Falklands conflict in 1982, Charles expressed regret that during his own service career he had not been ‘tested in action’ as his younger brother, Andrew, had been while serving with the Fleet Air Arm in the South Atlantic.”

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