{"id":2296710,"date":"2026-02-24T02:20:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T02:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2296710"},"modified":"2026-02-24T02:20:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T02:20:16","slug":"andrew-mountbatten-windsor-australia-and-new-zealand-back-plans-to-remove-him-from-line-of-succession-politics-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-australia-and-new-zealand-back-plans-to-remove-him-from-line-of-succession-politics-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: Australia and New Zealand back plans to remove him from line of succession | Politics News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The governments of Australia and New Zealand have thrown their weight behind plans to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession.<\/p>\n

The intervention from the Commonwealth countries comes amid calls for the former duke to be prevented from ever becoming king.<\/p>\n

Backing the calls, a spokesperson for New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the country would support the UK government if it proposes to take action.<\/p>\n

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese<\/a><\/strong> had already written to Sir Keir Starmer on Monday backing the measure.<\/p>\n

Andrew was arrested and interviewed under caution<\/strong><\/a> on Thursday 19 February, over allegations of misconduct in public office – something he strongly denies.<\/p>\n

Politics latest – follow live<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Following his arrest, calls for MPs to consider passing a law to remove the 66-year-old from the line of succession have grown.<\/p>\n

In his letter, Mr Albanese wrote: “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.<\/p>\n

“I agree with His Majesty<\/a><\/strong> that the law must now take its full course and there must be a full, fair and proper investigation.<\/p>\n

“These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously.”<\/p>\n

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\n Anthony Albanese’s letter to Sir Keir Starmer
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Changing the line of succession would require the agreement of all 15 realms of the Commonwealth where the British monarch is also the head of state.<\/p>\n

Only New Zealand and Australia have so far backed the move.<\/p>\n

Sky’s royal commentator Alastair Bruce said Albanese’s letter “must help the prime minister”, but warned that it may not be so simple to get all to agree.<\/p>\n

He said: “It takes a lot of time, and I think parliaments across the world who have the King as head of state will not be looking forward to having to find time to do this.”<\/p>\n

Asked about support for the move, Bruce said that “particularly since Elizabeth II died”, we are living in “a post-deferential age”, when “the attitude of people to institutions generally, not just the Royal Family, has altered”.<\/p>\n

He added that the monarchy was “suffering at the moment from the fact that its reputation is hugely damaged, and it will want to see to it that a solution is found that those who need justice receive it”.<\/p>\n

The UK government is understood to be considering introducing legislation<\/strong><\/a> to remove the former duke from the line of succession.<\/p>\n

But any such move would only happen once the ongoing police investigation into him has concluded.<\/p>\n

Andrew is currently eighth in line to the throne, behind Prince William and his three children, as well as Prince Harry and his two children.<\/p>\n

Australia<\/a><\/strong> has had a republican movement for well over a century, and it became the official policy of the country’s governing Labor Party more than three decades ago, in 1991.<\/p>\n

In 1999, a referendum on becoming a republic was held. Some 55% of voters supported remaining a constitutional monarchy, while 45% wanted to become a republic.<\/p>\n

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