The government will consider removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession – but how?
There’s talk of an act of parliament to stop him ever becoming king, but it’s not that simple.
King Charles is the monarch of the United Kingdom, but he’s also the king of 14 other countries.
Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese has told Sir Keir Starmer that he would support any effort to remove Andrew from the line of succession.
So how does it work? Sky News took a look at what it would involve.
Why are there calls for Andrew to be removed from the line?
The arrest of the former prince on suspicion of misconduct in public office has reignited calls for him to be formally removed from the royal line of succession.
He was released from the Aylsham police station after 11 hours of questioning.
Andrew has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
The possibility of him becoming king is remote – he’s currently eighth in line to the throne, behind Prince William and his three children, and Prince Harry and his two children.
But many are of the view that it’s important to remove him all the same for symbolic reasons.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray told Sky News: “The government is considering any further steps that might be required, and we’re not ruling anything out.
“But at this stage, it would be inappropriate for us to go any further because there is a live police investigation under way.”
A YouGov poll showed that 82% of the British public would support removing him from the line of succession.
Can the UK remove him? Yes but…
An act of parliament – that’s the one in Westminster – is required to alter the line of succession.
Sir Keir’s government has said it will consider introducing such legislation once police finish their investigation.
But any changes to the line of succession would also require the agreement of other countries, which also maintain King Charles as head of state.
They are: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
Barbados would have also been on this list but has been a republic since 2021.
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