by Jonathan Foster

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and third child of Queen Elizabeth of England, visited Caltech Thursday afternoon during a week-long tour of America. Heavy security surrounded the event and meant that only a few students were able to catch a glimpse of the Duke as he strolled across campus. The Tech was asked not to publish his itinerary ahead of time, and our reporter was threatened with arrest and thrown out of his approved place in the entourage.

The first stop of the short tour was Mudd Laboratory, where the Duke met with various seismologists from Caltech and the U.S. Geological Survey. The Duke was then escorted by Kip Thorne, Professor of Theoretical Physics, and Hall Daily, Director of Government Relations, across campus, stopping briefly in front of the bookstore. He ended his tour with a visit to the prototype of LIGO.

The Duke has various engagements in America this week, many relating to science and technology. In New York earlier this week, he visited several e-commerce agencies and attended briefings on technology such as one by the New York New Multi Media Association. In Los Angeles, the Duke has already attended a conference on telecommunications and on Friday will tour Edwards Air Force Base and receive a briefing on the Joint Strike Fighter Programme, in which the Royal Navy/Air Force is a partner with the United States military.

Of course, the Duke is not only attending these fairly serious occasions. In New York, he attended a reception at the Rockefeller Center, and in Los Angeles he will see both the new Disney Foundation Concert Hall and the Getty Museum when the latter opens an exhibition of Raphael drawings from the Royal Collection.

Prince Andrew was born on February 19, 1960, in Buckingham Palace, the first child to be born to a reigning English monarch in 103 years. After his schooling, he joined the Royal Navy as a pilot. He saw active service only six months into his naval career when the war for the Falkland Islands broke out with Argentina in 1982. Prince Andrew was created The Duke of York at the time of his marriage to Sarah Ferguson in 1986. This marriage resulted in two children, and a good deal of scandal for the Royal family when the two divorced in 1996.

The Prince currently serves as a staff officer for the Ministry of Defence, and balances his official royal duties with his military career.