The Duke of York abseils down The Shard

Monday, September 3, 2012
10:40 AM

The Duke of York abseiled down The Shard as part of a charity challenge this morning.

The Duke of York abseiling down The Shard. Picture: Max Nash/PA Wire

Prince Andrew was among a group of people who took part in Descent of The Shard, an event to raise money for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund (RMCTF) and the Outward Bound Trust, of which the royal is chairman of trustees.

This is the first and only time civilians will get the chance to abseil The Shard, western Europe’s tallest building.

The Duke of York descended The Shard from the 87th floor, just below the top of the 1,016ft tower, and finished half an hour later on level 20.

The 52-year-old royal was one of around 40 people to do the abseil.

Ffion Hague, the wife of the British Foreign Secretary, after she abseiled down from the top of The Shard. Picture: John Stillwell/PA Wire

Afterwards he 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 former Royal Navy helicopter pilot, who served in the Falklands War.

Describing how he got ready for the challenge, Prince Andrew said: “You have a moment to realise what you are doing and where you are going to go.

“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 over the edge without too much trepidation.”

Other people who took part in today’s challenge include Ffion Hague, wife of Foreign Secretary William Hague.