Abseiling Andrew gives Royal descent a whole new meaning

Andrew descended the Shard skyscraper in London, beginning his daredevil stunt from the 87th floor – just below the top of the 1,016ft tower – and finishing half an hour later on level 20.

The 52-year-old royal was one of around 40 people to lower themselves to raise money for educational charity the Outward Bound Trust and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

Making it safely down after abseiling a total of 785 feet, Andrew said: “I’m not even going to say that was a piece of cake or not. I will never do it again.

“I have to say, the most difficult bit was walking up the stairs.”

Donors have given more than £290,000 to sponsor Andrew, who is the Outward Bound Trust’s chairman of trustees.

As a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot who served in the Falklands War, he said the Marines were especially close to his heart.

He said: “The difficult bit was actually stepping out over the edge so the training I had done over the summer with the Royal Marines in Arbroath gave me the confidence.”

Andrew said he came up with the idea last year, when the skyscraper was being built.

The money raised for Outward Bound will be used to fund outdoor activities and learning for children who live in inner cities.

Asked what the Queen thought about his descent, the Duke of York said: “When I spoke to her about all the safety and the activities that were going on around it, about the teamwork... she understood what all the risks were and, like the incredible monarch she is, she was entirely happy.

“But this is not about me, this is about young people, this is about young people’s future.”

After Andrew completed the first descent, he was followed by Foreign Secretary William Hague’s wife Ffion, who is Outward Bound’s deputy chairman. Adventurer Sir Chris Bonington, 78, was also among the participants.