Starmer to consider bringing in law to remove Andrew from line of succession

A law to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession will be considered by the Government after police finish investigating the King’s brother, it is understood.

Despite being stripped of his title last year, the former Duke of York is still eighth in line to the throne.

An Act of Parliament would be required to remove him and prevent Andrew from ever becoming King.

Sir Keir Starmer’s government will consider introducing such legislation once the police have finished their investigation into him, the Press Association understands.

Any changes to the line of succession would also require the agreement of other countries which share the UK monarch, including Australia, Canada and Jamaica.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray told Sky News: “The government is considering any further steps that might be required, and we’re not ruling anything out.

“But at this stage, it would be inappropriate for us to go any further because there is a live police investigation under way.”

It comes after Andrew’s arrest on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was held in custody for 11 hours before being released under investigation.

Detectives continued to search Andrew’s former home – Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire – on Friday.

He was held on Thursday morning after allegations were made against him following the release of files related to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.

After Andrew’s arrest, the King said in a statement that “the law must take its course” and the police have “our full and wholehearted support and co-operation”.

Andrew became the first senior royal in modern history to be arrested after being taken into custody on his 66th birthday over allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.

Thames Valley Police, who are leading the investigation, are yet to receive any “early investigative advice” from the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the allegation, it is understood.

Detectives have asked Andrew’s former close protection officers to “consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard” during their service could be relevant to the investigation into paedophile financier Epstein and his associates.

The Metropolitan Police said it was also working with counterparts in the US to establish whether London airports had been used to “facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation”.

On Friday, the force said no new reports of alleged sexual offences have been made since the release of millions of pages of documents related to Epstein by the US Department of Justice.

The force previously said it was looking into allegations Andrew’s protection officers turned a “blind eye” to his visits to Epstein’s island, Little St James.

Police are yet to identify any wrongdoing by close protection officers.

Andrew’s primary accuser, Virginia Giuffre, alleged she had sex with him during an orgy with “underage” girls on the Caribbean island.

The former prince has previously vehemently denied all allegations made against him.

The 14 Commonwealth countries where King Charles is head of state are Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

The King stripped his younger brother of his prince and Duke of York titles in October.

He had already stepped down from public duties in 2019, after his disastrous Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein.

This meant he had already ceased to be an active counsellor of state, who can deputise for the monarch if he is overseas on an official trip or ill.

But as counsellors of state are drawn for the line of succession, removing him from it would officially resolve any question over Andrew taking such a role.