 "There's a possibility that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could be removed from the line of succession after Britain's government said it would consider introducing legal changes. File image/AP")
Britain’s royal family is in the throes of controversy as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was earlier arrested, and later released, on suspicion of misconduct in public office last Thursday (February 19).
Now, the UK government is considering his removal from the list of royals in line to the throne. “The government is clear that we are not ruling out action in respect of the line of succession at this stage, and we will consider whether any further steps are required in due course," Darren Jones, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief secretary, told lawmakers on Monday. Any such measure will only take place once the police investigation is finished, he added.
Even Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that his government will write to fellow Commonwealth of Nations members to support a proposal to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession. Albanese’s announcement came after its neighbouring nation, New Zealand, declared that it would also support the UK government if it proposes the removal of Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of the throne.
Even after being stripped of his status as a prince in October over his close links to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein , the former Prince Andrew remains eighth in line to become monarch. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Stripping a royal of their place in the line of succession is a complex process that involves more than a dozen countries that also recognise the British monarch as head of state.
Legal changes must be passed by Parliament
In the current royal succession order, Prince William, the son of King Charles III, is heir to the throne, followed by his children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Prince Harry comes next , with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet behind him.
Mountbatten-Windsor — who was second in line to the throne at his birth — currently follows them in eighth position. His daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are in ninth and 12th places respectively.
Removing him from the line of succession would require an act of parliament, which needs lawmakers’ approval.
One party, the Liberal Democrats, has been vocal about supporting such a move.
“I think it would be intolerable for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to succeed to the crown,” party leader Ed Davey said last week. “It’s not as remote as some people think."
Permissions beyond Britain
Any change to the line of succession would also require backing from about a dozen Commonwealth countries where Charles is head of state.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday he would back any UK government plan to exclude Mountbatten-Windsor.
“These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously,” he wrote in a letter to Starmer. “I agree with His Majesty that the law must now take its full course and there must be a full, fair and proper investigation.”
Starmer’s government is not believed to have received similar letters from 13 other countries that also have Charles as head of state, including Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Tuvalu.
Robert Hazell, a politics professor who founded the Constitution Unit at University College London, said in some countries it requires a formal constitutional amendment, while in others it can be done by legislation. He expressed doubt that the UK or the other governments would want to spend time removing Mountbatten-Windsor from the succession line, given he is only eighth in line.
“The last time this happened was for the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which made the law of royal succession gender neutral,” he said. “It took two years of protracted negotiations for all the different countries to amend their own laws or constitutions.”
Possible impact on Andrew’s daughters
One question is whether excluding Mountbatten-Windsor would affect his daughters , who are not working royals, and their children.
“Not necessarily — it depends on how the legislation is framed,” Hazell said.
The last time a royal was removed from the line of succession was after King Edward VIII abdicated in December 1936 to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. At the time, the law was changed to strike him and any descendants from the list.
For his part, King Charles has not publicly indicated whether he would support or oppose removing his brother from the line of succession. The monarch stressed that the law must take its course in the investigation, adding: “My family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.’’
Reports in the British media, however, suggest the palace is not against a legal change to remove Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession. Citing an unnamed palace source, The Times of London reported on Saturday that the royal family said it would “never get in the way” of what Parliament decides.
With inputs from AP