THIS is how Prince Andrew played a role in breaking devastating news to the Queen \- sparking the historic speech about her worst year ever. Her Majesty dubbed 1992 "annus horribilis" after she endured 12 months of heartache and sorrow.
GettyPrince Andrew had to break devastating news to his mother in 1992 '/ '
APHe had to tell the Queen of the Windsor Castle fire which broke out while she was away '/ '
AlamyHer Majesty rushed to her beloved castle after Andrew's call '/ ' Not only had three of her four children's marriages failed, but Diana's bombshell biography was released \- and part of the Queen's beloved Windsor Castle was destroyed in a fire. And Prince Andrew, who is said to be the Queen's favourite son, had the duty of telling his mother about the heart-breaking blaze. On November 20, 1992, a faulty spotlight in Her Majesty's Victoria's Private Chapel set alight to a curtain next to the altar. Just minutes later, the fire started spreading through the historic castle, including into St George's Hall next door. Read more on this story
PALACE NIGHTMARE How did the 1992 fire at Windsor Castle start?
THE QUEEN'S WORST YEAR The Windsor fire, Fergie's shame and TWO royal splits The fire was spotted at 11.30am and within three hours a team of 225 firefighters from seven counties were tackling the outbreak. The Queen and Prince Philip were not there at the time. But Andrew happened to be there as he was doing research for a course he was taking at Staff College in Camberley. The then-32-year-old was said to have organised a human chain to bring out artworks and valuables that may be destroyed. Most read in The US Sun DEADLY PLAN UVA 'shooter waited until return to campus before fatal attack killing three' COPS SLAMMED JonBenét Ramsey's dad breaks silence after major update pageant queen's murder DEVASTATING LOSS Idaho students' heartbreaking last pics before 'crime of passion killing' FINAL MOMENTS College football stars shared tragic last pics hours before being shot dead SKIPPING TOWN Little People's Caryn Chandler 'to move to Arizona' after huge family feud MASK WANTED The View fans concerned after guest 'coughs all over Sunny Hostin' live on air He then had the difficult duty of telling his mother what had happened. As soon as the Queen picked up the call from Andrew, she rushed to her beloved home and arrived about 3pm. Photographs from the time show Her Majesty looking sombre in a hooded rain jacket and head scarf as she speaks to firefighters and surveys the remnants of her castle. She was said to have stayed for an hour, leaving as Prince Andrew spoke to journalists. He told the reporters his mum was ...devastated". The blaze destroyed 115 rooms, causing millions of pounds worth of damage. Just four days after the horrific fire, the Queen made her famous speech, saying the year was the worst she'd had. She said: "1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. "In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an ...Annus Horribilis'." It took fire years to rebuild the castle. Most read in News RAPPER BUSTED Shock vid shows rapper tackled by cops in 'surprise arrest' in front of crowd 'HE TOOK HER' Casey Anthony breaks silence on daughter's death to blame dad in shock twist DEADLY PLAN UVA 'shooter waited until return to campus before fatal attack killing three' LAST WORDS Eerie post from student shared hours before 4 pals killed in 'crime of passion' DEATH RIDDLE Chilling call linked to deaths of Idaho students killed in 'crime of passion' COPS SLAMMED JonBenét Ramsey's dad breaks silence after major update pageant queen's murder Initially the work was due to be footed by the taxpayer, as Windsor Castle is owned by the Government and not the Royal Family. However, after outcry the Queen paid 70 per cent of the restoration work and opened parts of Buckingham Palace to the public to generate income.
AFPThe fire destroyed 115 rooms and caused millions of pounds of damage '/ '
GettyFour days after the blaze the Queen said her famous speech '/ '
