LONDON — Buckingham Palace has reportedly indicated it will not stand in the way of government plans to formally remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession. This historic shift comes as the former Prince faces a deepening legal crisis following his arrest earlier this week.
Police Searches Continue
Detectives from Thames Valley Police continued their search of Andrew’s former residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor, throughout the weekend. The 66-year-old was arrested on Thursday—his birthday—on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The investigation stems from newly released files by the U.S. Department of Justice, which allegedly suggest that Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential government information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and other contacts during his tenure as a UK trade envoy.
Andrew was released under investigation after spending 11 hours in custody. While he has not been charged, the police confirmed that items seized from both Royal Lodge and his current home on the Sandringham estate are being forensically examined.
A Constitutional Reckoning
Despite having already been stripped of his “Royal Highness” style and military titles last year, Andrew remains eighth in line to the British throne. He also holds the title of Counsellor of State, theoretically allowing him to stand in for King Charles III.
The government is now under immense pressure from across the political spectrum to sever these final legal ties.
- Downing Street: Ministers have confirmed they are working closely with the Palace on potential legislation. Defense Minister Luke Pollard stated the goal is to ensure Andrew is no longer “a heartbeat away from the throne.”
- The Opposition: Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called any potential ascension by Andrew “intolerable,” while Labour MPs have signaled strong support for legislative action.
- The Palace: Sources close to Buckingham Palace suggest the King is “ready to support” the investigation, famously stating that “the law must take its course.”
What Happens Next?
Removing a member from the line of succession is a complex constitutional process. It requires:
- An Act of Parliament: New legislation must be passed by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
- Commonwealth Consent: The change must be backed by the 14 other Commonwealth realms, including Canada and Australia, where the King serves as head of state.
- Royal Assent: The King must formally sign the bill into law.
Constitutional experts describe this as the most significant royal legal crisis in over 350 years, comparing the gravity of the situation to the 1936 abdication crisis. As police inquiries continue, the government has signaled it will wait for the conclusion of the criminal investigation before introducing formal legislation to Parliament.
Aleda Kawis is the Professional Journalist and serving in the field since 2012. She keeps extensive experience as investigating journalist and media influencer.
