New Zealand Approves Removal of Andrew from Royal Succession List

New Zealand’s Prime Minister has expressed support for efforts to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession. This announcement aligns with discussions among British officials considering legislation for his removal following the conclusion of a police investigation. Christopher Luxon, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, conveyed his stance after Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, made a similar commitment. “If the UK Government proposes to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, New Zealand would support it,” a spokesperson for Luxon stated. The UK Government has indicated that any such proposals would be addressed after the police probe is completed.

The former Duke of York was arrested on Thursday under suspicion of misconduct in public office. Authorities conducted searches at his Sandringham and Windsor properties, suspecting him of sharing sensitive information with financier Jeffrey Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy. Following 11 hours of questioning, Andrew was released under investigation, with searches at his former Royal Lodge residence still ongoing. Currently, Andrew ranks eighth in line to the throne, following Prince William, his three children—George, Charlotte, and Louis—as well as Prince Harry and his two children, Archie and Lilibet. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote to his UK counterpart, affirming that his government would support any move to remove Andrew from the line of succession, given recent developments.

“I agree with His Majesty that the law must now take its full course, ensuring a thorough and fair investigation,” Albanese stated. “These are serious allegations, and Australians regard them with gravity.” In response to inquiries about the letter, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson confirmed receipt, noting that the matter is under review. “The Government is considering whether further steps are necessary concerning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and we are not ruling anything out,” the spokesperson mentioned. However, due to the ongoing investigation, additional comments were deemed inappropriate at this time. Australia is the first among the other 14 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.’