New Zealand’s Prime Minister has expressed his willingness to endorse any initiative aimed at removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal succession line. This statement aligns with moves by British officials who are reportedly considering legislative actions to exclude Andrew, contingent on the conclusion of an ongoing police inquiry. Christopher Luxon, New Zealand’s leader, conveyed his support following a similar stance taken by Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. A representative for Luxon stated, “Should the UK Government decide to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, New Zealand is prepared to back that decision. The UK Government has indicated that any formal action will await the outcome of the police investigation.”
The dominion dominoes
The former Duke of York faced a significant legal setback with his arrest on Thursday, accused of misconduct in public office. Authorities conducted searches at his residences in Sandringham, Norfolk, and Windsor, Berkshire. Allegations against Andrew involve sharing confidential information with financier Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as the UK’s trade envoy. After 11 hours of questioning, he was released under investigation, while searches continued at his former Royal Lodge home in Windsor. Currently, he is eighth in the line of succession, following Prince William, his three children George, Charlotte, and Louis, and Prince Harry with his children, Archie and Lilibet. In a correspondence to his UK counterpart, Australian PM Anthony Albanese affirmed, “Given recent developments concerning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, my government supports any proposal to remove him from the royal succession line.”
The commonwealth first
Albanese further stated, “I concur with His Majesty on the necessity for a comprehensive and impartial investigation. The allegations are serious, and Australians regard them with gravity.” When queried about this correspondence, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman commented, “The Government has received the letter and is evaluating whether additional measures are necessary regarding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. We are not dismissing any options, but it is premature for the Government to provide detailed commentary due to the ongoing investigation.” He also noted that Australia is the first among the 14 other Commonwealth realms to express support for Andrew’s removal from the succession line.
After Andrew’s arrest, King Charles said: ‘I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. ‘What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. ‘Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. ‘As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.’ The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to support the King’s unprecedented statement following the arrest of William’s uncle Andrew at Sandringham on Thursday.
It comes as a retired civil servant today claimed Andrew charged taxpayers for massages while working as the UK’s trade envoy. The former member of staff, who worked in the UK’s trade department in the early 2000s, said the disgraced royal successfully expensed the treatment as well as excessive travel costs during his time in the role between 2001 and 2011. The civil servant alleged he was so annoyed by Andrew’s request that he’d refused to pay for the massage, but was ‘overruled’ by senior staff. ‘I thought it was wrong… I’d said we mustn’t pay it, but we ended up paying it anyway,’ he told the BBC. The Department for Business and Trade declined to comment on the claim. Andrew has always denied any personal gain from his role as trade envoy.
But a former senior Whitehall official, who oversaw finances, said he saw similar expenses for Andrew’s trips, adding he had ‘absolutely no doubt’ about the massage claims. Kemi Badenoch has said the Department for Business and Trade should open its files on Andrew if they relate to ‘allegations of misconduct in public office’. The Conservative leader, a former business secretary, was asked if she would support the department opening its files on Andrew, who served as trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. She told the Press Association: ‘I’m quite sure that the police will be asking for those files in due course. If they haven’t already, there should be full transparency. As trade secretary, I know that the trade envoy rule is quite a low level role. ‘Prince Andrew would have been given that because it could open doors, but if there is anything in these allegations of misconduct in public office, then all the files should be released and investigated.’
Mrs Badenoch was also asked if she supported calls from her Tory colleague Tom Tugendhat for a special parliamentary committee aimed at investigating Andrew and Lord Peter Mandelson’s links to Epstein. She said it was important to allow the police investigation into Andrew to ‘run its course’, and added: ‘It is extraordinary that right now the King has allowed the law to run its course while the Prime Minister is not releasing any files. ‘He sacked the cabinet secretary who was overseeing the release of the files. Parliament has a duty to make sure that the Government is held to account. We should not allow what’s happening with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to distract from the fact that the Prime Minister himself has a lot of questions to answer.’
