Australian premier backs former Prince Andrew's removal from British royal succession line

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA)—Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed support for former Prince Andrew's removal from the line of succession of the British royal family.

"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 in a letter addressed to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of misconduct in public office and taken to a Norfolk police station for questioning. He was released after 11 hours.

The younger brother of King Charles served as the UK’s trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. He withdrew from royal duties in 2019 after his connection to Jeffrey Epstein – who died the same year in a jail cell – became public.

He was stripped of his titles by King Charles last year. He remains the eighth in line to the throne.

Albanese's remarks come after a UK official last week said that the British government was considering passing a law to divest the former prince of his succession rights, according to ABC.

Any changes to the British succession line require all countries where King Charles is head of state, including Australia and Canada, to pass new laws.

"I agree with His Majesty that the law must now take its full course and there must be a full, fair and proper investigation," Albanese said. "These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously."