Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to Keir Starmer confirming that his government would support any proposal to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession. The former prince, stripped of his royal titles but still eighth in line to the throne, was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released under investigation.
“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,” Albanese wrote. “These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously.”
The UK Government is believed to be considering legislation to formally remove Andrew from the succession, a move backed by the Liberal Democrats and the SNP. Any such bill would also require agreement from Commonwealth states that share the monarch as head of state, which is why Albanese’s letter matters.
No one has been removed from the line of succession since 1936, when the descendants of Edward VIII were excluded following his abdication. That historical precedent gives a sense of how extraordinary this situation has become.
The King himself issued a written statement following his brother’s arrest: “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.” It was careful, measured language that nonetheless left no ambiguity about where the palace stands. Whether the legislation proceeds depends on political will at Westminster, but with Australia signalling support and cross party backing already in place, the direction of travel seems clear. Andrew’s position, already untenable in the court of public opinion, may soon be untenable in law as well.