Australia’s prime minister has told Sir Keir Starmer his government would back plans to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession.
Anthony Albanese expressed his support for such a proposal in a letter to the UK prime minister.
Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne despite being stripped of his titles, including “prince”, in October amid pressure over his ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The UK government is considering introducing legislation to remove him from the line of succession. It follows Andrew’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Thursday. He has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
The former prince was released under investigation 11 hours after his arrest by Thames Valley Police.
Removing Andrew from the line of succession would require an act of Parliament supported by the 14 Commonwealth countries where King Charles III, his brother, is head of state, including Australia.
Albanese’sletter reads: “Dear Prime Minister Starmer, in light of recent events concerning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, I am writing to confirm that my government would agree to any proposal to remove him from the line of royal succession.
“I agree with His Majesty that the law must now take its full course and there must be a full, fair and proper investigation.
“These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously.”
Speaking after his brother Andrew’s arrest, King Charles had said: “What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.”
A spokesman for the UK prime minister confirmed the letter had been received and said the government was “considering whether further steps are required in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor”. He said they were “not ruling anything out”.
“Given the ongoing police investigation it would not be appropriate for the government to comment further at this stage.”
Removing Andrew from the line of succession would require an act of Parliament approved by MPs and peers, and would come into effect when given royal assent by the King.
Canada, Jamaica and New Zealand are among the Commonwealth countries who would also need to support it.
The last time someone was removed from the line of succession by an act of Parliament was in 1936, when the former Edward VIII and his descendants were removed due to his abdication.
Buckingham Palace has not publicly commented on the government’s consideration of legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession.
On Friday, Defence Minister Luke Pollard told the BBC that the move – which would prevent Andrew from ever becoming King – was the “right thing to do,” regardless of the outcome of the police investigation.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray meanwhile said “any questions in that sphere would be quite complicated”, adding that the live police investigation needed to “play out”.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said on Monday that Parliament should not pass legislation to remove the former prince from the line of succession “until the police have finished their jobs”. He also cautioned against a “trial by media”.
The former prince was arrested at 08:00 GMT on Thursday at Sandringham, the King’s Norfolk estate where Andrew has been living since leaving his Windsor home, Royal Lodge, in early February.
Police searches at Sandringham concluded late on Thursday. It is understood they continued at the 30-room property in Windsor over the weekend, where several unmarked police cars were seen on Saturday.
Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. He has not responded to the BBC’s requests for comment on specific allegations that have emerged after the US release of millions of files in January connected to the late financier’s case.
Source: BBC
