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Prince Andrew abseils from 87th floor of Shard Prince Andrew abseils from 87th floor of Shard
(8 days later)
Perhaps, he could be forgiven for thinking while standing at an open window on the 87th floor of the Shard in London, this was not one of his better ideas.Perhaps, he could be forgiven for thinking while standing at an open window on the 87th floor of the Shard in London, this was not one of his better ideas.
But, as a misty dawn broke over the capital on Monday, the Duke of York took his courage – and a strong nylon rope – in his hands, stepped off the edge, and honoured a pledge to abseil down the slippery glass-sheathed 310-metre (1,016ft) spire that is western Europe's tallest building.But, as a misty dawn broke over the capital on Monday, the Duke of York took his courage – and a strong nylon rope – in his hands, stepped off the edge, and honoured a pledge to abseil down the slippery glass-sheathed 310-metre (1,016ft) spire that is western Europe's tallest building.
He was one of 40 volunteers, including Ffion Hague, wife of the foreign secretary, to undertake the challenge hoping to raise more than £1m for the Outward Bound Trust and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust.He was one of 40 volunteers, including Ffion Hague, wife of the foreign secretary, to undertake the challenge hoping to raise more than £1m for the Outward Bound Trust and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust.
It must have seemed genius when Prince Andrew, chairman of the educational charity trust, first mooted the challenge to other trustees during a meeting in the comfort of his Buckingham Palace office last year.It must have seemed genius when Prince Andrew, chairman of the educational charity trust, first mooted the challenge to other trustees during a meeting in the comfort of his Buckingham Palace office last year.
But now it was 7am and the 52-year-old royal, whose view from that height has more usually been from first class, had to deliver.But now it was 7am and the 52-year-old royal, whose view from that height has more usually been from first class, had to deliver.
Way below, 239 metres to be precise, the media assembled on the Shard's 20th floor terrace, craning necks to watch the tiny dark dot as it emerged above. "He's done it. He's stepped off," said David Hopkins, university professor, Outward Bound trustee and international mountain guide waiting at the bottom to unhook the abseilers. "That's the hard bit. Can you imagine how hyped he must be? He must be so in the zone."Way below, 239 metres to be precise, the media assembled on the Shard's 20th floor terrace, craning necks to watch the tiny dark dot as it emerged above. "He's done it. He's stepped off," said David Hopkins, university professor, Outward Bound trustee and international mountain guide waiting at the bottom to unhook the abseilers. "That's the hard bit. Can you imagine how hyped he must be? He must be so in the zone."
As the royal posterior edged closer and closer, another little black dot appeared above it. Ffion Hague, the trust's deputy chairman, in her own words "not a sporty type", was beginning her descent. "God, she's brave," muttered a TV producer as the camera zoomed in and a media helicopter hovered alongside.As the royal posterior edged closer and closer, another little black dot appeared above it. Ffion Hague, the trust's deputy chairman, in her own words "not a sporty type", was beginning her descent. "God, she's brave," muttered a TV producer as the camera zoomed in and a media helicopter hovered alongside.
And so it went throughout the day. John Caudwell, 59, possessed of a mobile phone fortune and a fear of heights, donned a Spider-Man outfit. Sir Chris Bonington, 78, conquerer of Everest and the Eiger, strolled it.And so it went throughout the day. John Caudwell, 59, possessed of a mobile phone fortune and a fear of heights, donned a Spider-Man outfit. Sir Chris Bonington, 78, conquerer of Everest and the Eiger, strolled it.
In all some 20 were abseiling from the 87th floor to the 20th, while others were completing different stages.In all some 20 were abseiling from the 87th floor to the 20th, while others were completing different stages.
Some half-hour after setting off the duke made it to the 20th floor, his shoes squeaking audibly on the glass. "I'm not even going to say that was a piece of cake," he said. "I will never do it again."Some half-hour after setting off the duke made it to the 20th floor, his shoes squeaking audibly on the glass. "I'm not even going to say that was a piece of cake," he said. "I will never do it again."
So had he been scared at all? "I was scared at the top," he admitted, saying the morning mist had made the windows wet with condensation. "I slipped the whole way down the first section."So had he been scared at all? "I was scared at the top," he admitted, saying the morning mist had made the windows wet with condensation. "I slipped the whole way down the first section."
What did his parachuting mother think of it all? She had been "entirely happy" when he last spoke to her about it at Balmoral, he said.What did his parachuting mother think of it all? She had been "entirely happy" when he last spoke to her about it at Balmoral, he said.
"It's a long way down. But it's a fantastic view of London," added the former Royal Navy helicopter pilot, concluding: "Yes, I feel very good. I think I'll go and have some breakfast now.""It's a long way down. But it's a fantastic view of London," added the former Royal Navy helicopter pilot, concluding: "Yes, I feel very good. I think I'll go and have some breakfast now."
The abseils were completed in three stages – a 32-metre descent, followed by a changeover of rope for the next 175 metres, and a second rope change for the final 32 metres. It could not be completed in one single abseil because a 300-metre rope was too heavy to carry.The abseils were completed in three stages – a 32-metre descent, followed by a changeover of rope for the next 175 metres, and a second rope change for the final 32 metres. It could not be completed in one single abseil because a 300-metre rope was too heavy to carry.
Each abseiler had two ropes, one to grip and another secured to their safety harness. Organisers insisted it was safe, with ropes attached to the superstructure of the building and the operation overseen by the Royal Marines. All of which did little to calm nerves.Each abseiler had two ropes, one to grip and another secured to their safety harness. Organisers insisted it was safe, with ropes attached to the superstructure of the building and the operation overseen by the Royal Marines. All of which did little to calm nerves.
"It was exhilarating and terrifying in about equal measure," said Hague, admitting "my comfort zone is so far away just now I can't even see it"."It was exhilarating and terrifying in about equal measure," said Hague, admitting "my comfort zone is so far away just now I can't even see it".
She said: "The thing you notice first is the silence. The sounds of the city are very distant. It's just you, a breath of wind, and it's very disconcerting to see the birds flying beneath you. Then, about half way down, the wind kicks in and you can hear the platform announcements from London Bridge station. That's very surreal."She said: "The thing you notice first is the silence. The sounds of the city are very distant. It's just you, a breath of wind, and it's very disconcerting to see the birds flying beneath you. Then, about half way down, the wind kicks in and you can hear the platform announcements from London Bridge station. That's very surreal."
The hardest bit was "coming off the edge, no doubt".The hardest bit was "coming off the edge, no doubt".
"It's a very, very scary thing, but once I relaxed enough to control the rope properly, have a smooth glide, then I could have a look around. It was fabulous. I saw the Gherkin like a little spot in the far distance.""It's a very, very scary thing, but once I relaxed enough to control the rope properly, have a smooth glide, then I could have a look around. It was fabulous. I saw the Gherkin like a little spot in the far distance."
Caudwell's descent was briefly interruped about 20 metres from the end for his family to take photographs. "Stop there, stop there," shouted his son Jacobi, eight, leaving him hanging around the 25th floor mark. "I just want to get down," his father shouted back.Caudwell's descent was briefly interruped about 20 metres from the end for his family to take photographs. "Stop there, stop there," shouted his son Jacobi, eight, leaving him hanging around the 25th floor mark. "I just want to get down," his father shouted back.
"That was broadly terrifying, but sort of terrifying, fantasy fun," Caudwell said on completion. But it had done little for his vertigo. "I think I'm even more scared. I think it was kill or cure and I don't think the cure's worked," he laughed. He was so nervous beforehand, he blocked it from his mind until the last possible moment. "As we were driving here in the car, my lad said: 'Oh there it is, daddy. Right up there.' And I said: 'I don't want to know.'"That was broadly terrifying, but sort of terrifying, fantasy fun," Caudwell said on completion. But it had done little for his vertigo. "I think I'm even more scared. I think it was kill or cure and I don't think the cure's worked," he laughed. He was so nervous beforehand, he blocked it from his mind until the last possible moment. "As we were driving here in the car, my lad said: 'Oh there it is, daddy. Right up there.' And I said: 'I don't want to know.'
"It's not till you get the gear on, it starts dawning on you what you've got to do.""It's not till you get the gear on, it starts dawning on you what you've got to do."
No such nerves for Bonington. "It is a whole sight easier abseiling down glass than it is rock and snow with the wind whistling around your ears." he said.No such nerves for Bonington. "It is a whole sight easier abseiling down glass than it is rock and snow with the wind whistling around your ears." he said.
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