Australia would agree to remove royal from line of succession amid Jeffrey Epstein scandal
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia would strip the former prince Andrew’s right to succeed to the throne due to the grave allegations against the disgraced royal.
Officials in the UK told local media this week that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was considering legislation that would remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession. Fifteen Commonwealth nations are required to pass laws to make such a change.
The ex-prince, stripped of his royal title in October last year over his connections to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is eighth in line to the throne after the families of princes William and Harry, making it highly unlikely he would become Australia’s and the UK’s head of state.
Starmer has not publicly announced he will dump Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession. The BBC reported that any such move would probably occur only after police concluded their probe into the 66-year-old’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein which led to his arrest last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
But Albanese pre-empted any move by writing to Starmer on Monday, underscoring the strong appetite among politicians to be seen to denounce Mountbatten-Windsor.
“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,” Albanese’s letter, provided by the government to this masthead, said.
“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 UK removing Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession would represent a significant shift from last year, reflecting the level of public disapproval toward him. Starmer is battling to hold on to power after months of feuding within his Labour Party and a firestorm over links between the man Starmer appointed as US ambassador, Peter Mandelson and Epstein.
Mountbatten-Windsor was for many years the second in line to the throne, but is now eighth after the families of Prince William and Prince Harry.
A survey conducted for this masthead in November found Mountbatten-Windsor was viewed unfavourably by 59 per cent of respondents and positively by 13 per cent. His net likeability rating was minus 46. By comparison, US President Donald Trump’s rating was minus 41 in this month’s survey, while Victorian Labor premier Jacinta Allan’s was minus 36.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents in the November poll backed a change to the succession rules.
The royal scandal has not changed Albanese’s position on Australia becoming a republic with its own head of state. The prime minister is a long-time republican but has said he will not hold a referendum to make the switch after the failed Voice to parliament referendum in his first term.
Also in the November survey, support for Australia becoming a republic rose to 43 per cent amid renewed attention on Mountbatten-Windsor.
Another 29 per cent of people were undecided, while 28 per cent opposed a republic, down from a high of 37 per cent in 2022 following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Former prime minister Julia Gillard changed the law in 2011 to amend royal succession laws to allow male and female heirs equal rights to the throne.
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Paul Sakkal is chief political correspondent. He previously covered Victorian politics and has won Walkley and Quill awards. Reach him securely on Signal @paulsakkal.14Connect via X or email.From our partners
