By Marisa Laudadio
2:41pm PST, Mar 4, 2026
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Pressure is mounting to deal with
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor not just in the U.K. but internationally. Australia — a key member of the Commonwealth — has signaled it supports stripping the former royal of his place in the line of succession.
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Australian Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese wrote to U.K. Prime Minister
Keir Starmer confirming his government would agree to back efforts under discussion among U.K. lawmakers to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York — who is currently eighth in line to the throne — as one of
King Charles III's successors, Britain's
Daily Express reported.
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"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," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously." The former Prince Andrew — whose royal titles were stripped away by his brother King Charles III in late 2025 amid renewed scrutiny of his ties to predator Jeffrey Epstein — was recently arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office weeks after the U.S. Justice Department released emails suggesting he had passed along sensitive government documents to Epstein while serving as Britain's trade envoy.
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Any move to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession would be complicated. It would require approval not only from Britain's Parliament but also from all 14 Commonwealth realms, including Australia, where some local governments would also have to sign off on the change.
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Altering the line of succession is being considered at the highest levels of the U.K. government. Luke Pollard, the U.K.'s minister of defense and a member of the ruling Labour Party, told the BBC it would be the "right thing to do," confirming the government had "absolutely" been working with Buckingham Palace on plans to stop Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from "potentially being a heartbeat away from the throne." He added that he hopes the effort "will enjoy cross-party support," but acknowledged the process should only move forward once the current police investigation into the former Duke of York's actions concludes.
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Public opinion on how to handle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is also becoming clearer. A new YouGov poll found that 82 percent of Britons believe the former Duke of York should be removed from the line of succession, while just six percent said he should remain.
