Australian PM Signals Support for Removing Andrew Mountbatten Windsor from Royal Succession

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated his government would support moves to remove Andrew Mountbatten Windsor from the line of succession to the British throne, following the royal’s recent arrest in the United Kingdom.

In a letter sent to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Albanese confirmed that Australia would back any formal proposal to exclude the Duke from the order of succession. The move comes after British authorities launched a police investigation into allegations linked to his past associations with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Mountbatten Windsor, currently eighth in line to the throne, was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The investigation is examining whether he acted improperly during his time as a government trade envoy. Police have also been reviewing material connected to Epstein, who died in a US jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

King Charles, who is head of state not only of the United Kingdom but also of Australia and 13 other Commonwealth realms, previously stripped his younger brother of his prince title and required him to vacate his Windsor residence. Any further step to remove him from the line of succession would require coordinated legislative approval across all the affected realms, including Australia.

Under long standing constitutional arrangements, changes to the succession must be agreed by each Commonwealth country where the British monarch is head of state. The last significant reform took place in 2013, when legislation ended the centuries old system of male preference primogeniture, ensuring that the gender of a child no longer determined their position in the line of succession.

In his letter, Albanese stated that the law must take its full course and that there should be a full and fair investigation into what he described as grave allegations. He said Australians take the matter seriously and emphasised the importance of upholding the integrity of public office.

The British government has indicated that any legislative action regarding the line of succession would follow the conclusion of the ongoing police inquiries. Officers have conducted searches at properties associated with Mountbatten Windsor as part of their investigation. He has not made any public statement since the release of documents by US authorities related to Epstein and has consistently denied wrongdoing in connection with the financier.

The developments have renewed debate about the future of the monarchy and accountability within public life. In Australia, where republican sentiment has periodically resurfaced, the issue is likely to draw additional political attention. While there is no immediate timeline for legislative change, diplomatic coordination between London and Canberra will be essential should the process move forward.