{"id":116321,"date":"2026-02-21T13:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T13:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=116321"},"modified":"2026-02-21T13:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T13:40:00","slug":"government-considers-removing-andrew-from-royal-line-of-succession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=116321","title":{"rendered":"Government considers removing Andrew from royal line of succession"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>4 Minute, 46 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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The government is considering introducing legislation to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession.<\/p>\n

Defence Minister Luke Pollard told the BBC the move \u2013 which would prevent Andrew from ever becoming King \u2013 was the \u201cright thing to do,\u201d regardless of the outcome of the police investigation.<\/p>\n

Currently Andrew, the King\u2019s brother, remains eighth in line to the throne despite being stripped of his titles, including \u201cprince\u201d, last October amid pressure over his ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.<\/p>\n

On Thursday evening,\u00a0Andrew was released under investigation\u00a011 hours after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n

Speaking on BBC Radio 4\u2019s Any Questions programme, Pollard confirmed the government had \u201cabsolutely\u201d been working with Buckingham Palace on the plans to stop the former prince from \u201cpotentially being a heartbeat away from the throne\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said this was \u201csomething that I hope will enjoy cross party support, but its right that that is something that only happens when the police investigation concludes\u201d.<\/p>\n

Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray told the BBC that \u201cany questions in that sphere would be quite complicated\u201d, adding that the live police investigation needs to \u201cplay out\u201d.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, several unmarked police cars were again seen entering Royal Lodge, the 30-room Windsor property where Andrew lived for many years.<\/p>\n

At one point on Friday more than 20 vehicles could be seen parked at the property, although it is not known it all was connected to the investigation and searches.<\/p>\n

Thames Valley Police, the force which arrested him, is expected to continue searching Royal Lodge until Monday, the BBC understands.<\/p>\n

Several other forces across the UK are also considering whether to launch investigations, noted Danny Shaw, a former adviser to ex-home secretary Yvette Cooper.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has the danger of spiralling out of control,\u201d Shaw told Radio 4\u2019s Today programme. Because of this, these investigations could take \u201cconsiderable time\u201d, he added.<\/p>\n

The government\u2019s proposal to remove Andrew from the line of succession comes after some MPs, including the Liberal Democrats and SNP, signalled their support for such legislation.<\/p>\n

Some Labour parliamentarians who have been critical of the monarchy told the BBC they were less convinced the move was required \u2013 in part because it is so unlikely the former Duke of York would ever get near to the throne.<\/p>\n

In October, Downing Street said it had no plans to introduce a law to change the line of succession.<\/p>\n

After the latest revelations, historian David Olusoga told BBC Newsnight there is now \u201ca desperate desire within government and within the palace to draw a firewall\u2026 between this crisis and the wider monarchy\u201d.<\/p>\n

Buckingham Palace has not publicly commented on the government\u2019s plans to remove Andrew from the line of succession.<\/p>\n

\"Government<\/figure>\n

The move would require an act of Parliament, which would have to be approved by MPs and peers and would come into effect when given royal assent by the King.<\/p>\n

It would also need to be supported by the 14 Commonwealth countries where Charles III is head of state, including Canada, Australia, Jamaica and New Zealand.<\/p>\n

The last time the line of succession was changed by an act of Parliament was in 2013, when the Succession to the Crown Act restored individuals who had previously been excluded because they had married a Catholic.<\/p>\n

It also ended \u201cmale primogeniture\u201d, under which a younger son can displace an elder daughter in the line of succession. This applies to those born after 28 October 2011.<\/p>\n

The last time someone was removed from the line of succession by an act of Parliament was in 1936, when the former Edward VIII and his descendants were removed due to his abdication.<\/p>\n

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said police should be \u201callowed to get on with their job, acting without fear or favour\u201d.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The SNP would support removing Andrew from the line of succession if legislation is required, according to the party\u2019s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn.<\/p>\n

Labour MP Rachael Maskell, who represents York Central, has also backed the move.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cI would support legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession and to remove from the counsellor of state.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for the King, he will be capable of looking at this latest challenge through a lens that separates familial bonds from official duty, said Julian Payne, the monarch\u2019s former communications secretary.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re very clear: this is an individual. It is not a member of the Royal Family,\u201d Payne told BBC Breakfast. \u201cAnd they treat the two very, very differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

Queen Camilla, who Payne noted married into the institution and was a \u201cnormal\u201d member of public for decades, is also \u201cvery adept at tuning into the public mood\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe will be taking all of the information and using it to help the King when they are formulating their decisions and deciding which way to go on this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Counsellors of state can stand in for a monarch who is ill or overseas although, in practice, only working royals are expected to be called upon to fulfil those duties.<\/p>\n

Removing Andrew from the line of succession would also strip him of that role too,\u00a0according to the House of Commons Library.<\/p>\n

Andrew stepped back from public duties in 2019 following a backlash after an interview with BBC Newsnight about his relationship with Epstein.<\/p>\n

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said \u201call of us in public life need to give space\u201d to the police investigation to be carried out.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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