Australia signals support for legislation to exclude Andrew from succession

National Press Corporation(NPC)
United Kingdom—Australia has said it would support proposals to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession, following his recent arrest in the UK.

In a letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese confirmed his government would agree to any legislation aimed at excluding Andrew from the succession.

Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne despite having been stripped of his royal titles in October, amid renewed scrutiny over his links to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. He was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released under investigation. He has denied all wrongdoing.

Any move to remove Andrew from the line of succession would require an Act of Parliament in the UK and the approval of all 14 Commonwealth realms where King Charles III is head of state, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

In his letter, Albanese said the allegations were serious and backed the King’s call for “a full, fair and proper investigation”. A spokesman for the UK prime minister confirmed the letter had been received, adding that the government was considering whether further steps were required but would not comment while the police investigation continues.

Buckingham Palace has not commented publicly. The last time someone was removed from the line of succession by an Act of Parliament was in 1936, following the abdication of Edward VIII.