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According to BBC sources, the government is contemplating legislation that would remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal succession line. This proposed change aims to prevent him from ascending to the throne in the future. The initiative is expected to proceed only after the conclusion of a police investigation involving Mountbatten-Windsor.
Despite having been stripped of his royal titles last October, including the rank of “prince,” Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne. This followed intense scrutiny of his connections to the convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The legislative proposal has gained backing from various Members of Parliament, particularly from the Liberal Democrats and SNP, who have expressed support for removing Mountbatten-Windsor from the succession.
Some Labour MPs, however, have voiced reservations about the necessity of such measures, citing the improbability of Mountbatten-Windsor ever becoming monarch. Previously, Downing Street stated in October that there were no plans to alter the line of succession legally. Implementing such a change would require an act of Parliament passed by both the House of Commons and House of Lords, as well as consent from all Commonwealth realms recognizing King Charles as their head of state, since it would affect their own succession orders.
Historically, changes to the succession line have been rare. The last modification occurred in 2013 with the Succession to the Crown Act, which reinstated individuals who had been barred due to marrying a Catholic. The last removal by Parliamentary action happened in 1936 following Edward VIII’s abdication. Commenting on the current situation, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey emphasized the importance of allowing police investigations to proceed without interference, while acknowledging Parliament’s eventual role: “But clearly this is an issue that Parliament is going to have to consider when the time is right, naturally the monarchy will want to make sure he can never become King.”
Support for legislative action also comes from SNP leader Stephen Flynn and Labour MP Rachael Maskell, with the latter stating, “I would support legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession and to remove from the counsellor of state.” Counsellors of state temporarily act on behalf of the monarch when the sovereign is ill or abroad, but typically this duty falls to senior working royals.
Mountbatten-Windsor withdrew from public duties in 2019 following criticism after a BBC Newsnight interview addressing his relationship with Epstein. Conservative figures have called for restraint until the investigation concludes. Leader Kemi Badenoch remarked that all involved must “give space” to the police inquiry. Meanwhile, Conservative MP Andrew Bowie told GB News removing Mountbatten-Windsor from the succession “would be the decent thing” if he were found guilty. He added, “I think until the investigations have concluded, however, yes of course if he is found guilty of this, I think Parliament would be well within its rights to act and remove him from the line of succession.” Bowie also emphasized the presumption of innocence, noting Mountbatten-Windsor has not yet been charged and that the investigation must be allowed to proceed without prejudice
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