Argentine military government reportedly planned to assassinate Andrew on Mustique

In October 1982, reports later indicated that Argentina’s military junta explored a plan to target Prince Andrew, Duke of York, during a private holiday on the Caribbean island of Mustique. The alleged plan emerged in the aftermath of the Falklands War, which had ended in June 1982 with Argentina’s defeat by British forces. According to intelligence accounts and subsequent reporting, the proposed operation involved deploying a submarine carrying Argentine special forces to the island, with the intention of landing a small unit tasked with assassinating the Prince. Prince Andrew was considered a symbolic target due to his active role in the conflict earlier that year, where he served as a Sea King helicopter co-pilot aboard HMS Invincible, undertaking operational missions including anti-submarine patrols and decoy flights against Exocet missile threats. The plan was never executed. Reports suggest it was abandoned due to internal instability within Argentina’s leadership following the war, as the ruling junta faced increasing political pressure and weakening authority. These conditions limited the feasibility of conducting overseas covert operations at that stage. At the time, Prince Andrew was staying on Mustique with American actress Koo Stark. The island, known for its privacy and controlled access, had long been used as a retreat by members of the Royal Family. In 1983, Queen Elizabeth II’s press secretary, Michael Shea, publicly downplayed the reported plot, remarking that if British tabloids struggled to locate the Prince there, it was unlikely others could do so. Separate from the Mustique reports, Argentina did carry out other covert actions during the Falklands conflict. One confirmed operation, known as Operation Algeciras, involved Argentine agents traveling to Spain with the aim of attacking British naval targets in Gibraltar. The group was intercepted and arrested by Spanish authorities before the mission could be carried out. The reported Mustique plan, although not implemented, reflects the tensions that persisted after the Falklands War and the consideration of unconventional actions during that period. #PrinceAndrew #FalklandsWar #Mustique #Argentina #ColdWarEra