Daredevil duke abseils from Shard’s 87th floor to raise funds for Marines

The Duke of York overcame his “sense of trepidation” to abseil down the tallest building in Europe for charity yesterday.

Prince Andrew, 52, 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 duke was one of about 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 785ft, 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 the duke, 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 close to his heart.

Describing yesterday’s experience, 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 to step out without too much trepidation.”

Prince Andrew said he came up with the idea of abseiling down the Shard as a fundraising opportunity last year, when the skyscraper was being built.

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

Asked what the Queen thought of his descent, the duke said: “When I spoke to her last at Balmoral she was interested in why we were doing it. She understood what all the risks were and, like the incredible monarch she is, she was entirely happy.”