Society

A history of the monarchy’s second-in-command

Sometimes the heir dies, or walks away. A history of sometimes monarchy-saving spares

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Did you know of the last four British monarchs, two were spares? Yes, sometimes the heir dies (or walks away), and the spare has to step in to save the monarchy. Here’s a look back at the vital spare through history.

Gallery

Spares Through History
Prince Andrew
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Prince Andrew

For 22 years until William arrived, and then Harry, Andrew was the spare to Charles. Proclaimed a heartthrob in his teens, he has been engulfed by a series of scandals, the first of which began when his relationship with a soft-porn actress was revealed after he returned from serving as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War in 1982. (Mirrorpix/Everett Collection/CP)

Here’s more of Maclean’s in-depth coverage of the birth of the second royal baby:

 

 

 

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