A petition calling for the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession has received nearly 26,000 signatures in four days. The petition was launched following Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, after new documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case were released.
The petition, started by Joel Boissevain on February 19—the day of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s 66th birthday and his arrest—accuses him of crimes against women and argues that his position in the line of succession undermines the monarchy’s integrity. Mr Boissevain said: “We find ourselves at a critical juncture where the integrity of the British Monarchy is being scrutinised due to serious allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
“These allegations involve heinous crimes against women and girls, prompting questions about the suitability of his position in the royal line of succession. Such situations become further untenable now that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested by the police for alleged misconduct in public office.
“This is not merely about lineal sequence; this is about preserving the dignity and integrity of the institution that represents the Commonwealth realms.
“Allowing someone facing such severe allegations to remain in line for the throne, despite the improbability of succession, casts a shadow over not only the Royal Family but also the governments of the Commonwealth under which the monarchy functions.”
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III, was arrested at his Sandringham residence in Norfolk by Thames Valley Police on Thursday morning.
He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and held for 11 hours at Aylsham police station before being released under investigation. No charges have been filed.
Misconduct in a public office is a common-law crime that carries a potential life sentence.
The arrest of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor related to his time serving as Britain’s special representative for international trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.
Police searches continued over the weekend at his former Windsor home, Royal Lodge, and involved questioning former protection officers.
It followed the US Justice Department releasing additional Epstein-related documents in early February, prompting UK authorities to review claims against Mr Mountbatten-Windsor.
This is the first arrest of a senior royal in nearly 400 years. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has previously faced scrutiny for his connections to Epstein, who was convicted of sex offences in 2008 and died in 2019 while awaiting trial on further charges.
Controversy dates back to 2001, when a photo showed Mr Mountbatten-Windsor with Epstein and Virginia Giuffre, then 17, at Ghislaine Maxwell’s London home. Giuffre later accused him of sexual assault in a 2019 lawsuit, which he denied. In 2022, he settled the civil case out of court for an undisclosed sum, reportedly £12 million, without admitting liability.
In January 2022, Queen Elizabeth II stripped Mr Mountbatten-Windsor of his military titles and royal patronages. He stepped back from public duties in 2019. In October 2025, King Charles III formally removed his princely title.
A YouGov poll conducted after the arrest found that 82% of Britons support his removal from the line of succession, where he is currently eighth. The Government is considering legislation to achieve this. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “A judge-led inquiry is possible but the police investigation takes priority.”
Buckingham Palace issued a statement expressing the King’s “deepest concern” and stating: “The law must take its course.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
