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Canadian leader calls for Prince Andrew's exclusion from throne line
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has demanded that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor be stripped of his place in the royal succession, citing the former Duke of York's alleged misconduct and ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Allegations and arrest
Mountbatten-Windsor was detained last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office after accusations surfaced that he shared confidential documents with Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in custody in 2019. The prince has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein but has not addressed the latest allegations following the January release of millions of pages from Epstein's files.
International pressure mounts
Carney, speaking to journalists in Tokyo, described the prince's actions as "deplorable" and argued that his position in the line of succession-currently eighth-should be revoked on principle, regardless of his rank. "Even though he is well down the line, the point of principle stands," Carney stated.
Australia and New Zealand have already signaled their support for such a move. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed in a letter to UK leader Sir Keir Starmer that his government would back any proposal to remove Mountbatten-Windsor from the succession. "These are grave allegations, and Australians take them seriously," Albanese wrote.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon echoed the sentiment, telling reporters that "no one is above the law" and that his government would support the UK's decision once the police investigation concludes.
UK government weighs legislative action
The British government is exploring legislation to formally exclude the former prince from the line of succession. Defence Minister Luke Pollard, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions, called the move "the right thing to do," irrespective of the police inquiry's outcome. Pollard confirmed that officials had "absolutely" been coordinating with Buckingham Palace to prevent Mountbatten-Windsor from ever ascending to the throne.
Legal and constitutional hurdles
Any removal would require an Act of Parliament, approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and would take effect only after receiving royal assent from King Charles III. Additionally, the 14 Commonwealth nations where the monarch serves as head of state would need to endorse the change.
The last comparable case occurred in 1936, when Edward VIII and his descendants were removed from the succession following his abdication. Buckingham Palace has not commented publicly on the government's deliberations.
