Andrew met the American photographer and actress Koo Stark

In February 1981, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, met American photographer and actress Koo Stark at a party held to celebrate his 21st birthday. The introduction reportedly took place through a mutual friend, marking the beginning of a relationship that would attract significant public attention in the early 1980s. At the time, Prince Andrew had just turned 21, while Koo Stark was 24 and working in the United Kingdom as an understudy in a National Theatre production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. The couple went on to date for approximately 18 months, maintaining a relationship both before and after Prince Andrew’s deployment in the Falklands War in 1982. During their time together, Koo Stark was introduced to members of the Royal Family and was reportedly received positively by Queen Elizabeth II. She was invited to several royal residences, including Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, Windsor Castle, and Sandringham, indicating a level of acceptance within royal circles at the time. However, the relationship came under increasing media scrutiny in 1982. Public attention intensified after it was revealed that the couple had vacationed together on the Caribbean island of Mustique. Further controversy arose when British tabloids highlighted Stark’s earlier appearance in the 1976 film Emily, which included nude scenes. The resulting press coverage placed sustained pressure on the relationship. In 1983, Prince Andrew and Koo Stark ended their relationship. Despite the separation, reports in later years indicated that they remained on amicable terms, maintaining a long-standing personal connection beyond their time as a couple. #PrinceAndrew #KooStark #RoyalFamily #1980s #UKMonarchy Moment Start Date: 01/02/1981