Removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession to the British monarchy would gain the support of Australia, one of the 15 countries around the world that counts King Charles III as head of state, Australia’s prime minister has said.
Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in a public office over allegations he leaked confidential trade documents to Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to say: “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.”
The latest probe is separate to Virginia Giuffre’s allegation that she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and made to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor in 2001. Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied the allegation and settled a civil lawsuit brought by Giuffre for an undisclosed sum without admitting liability.
Pressure has been mounting in Britain to remove Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession to ensure he can never be king, but the British government would need the support of all the Commonwealth realms.
These are the countries outside Britain that count Charles as king and include Australia.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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