Australia is writing to fellow Commonwealth realms to declare its support for removing Prince Andrew from the line of royal succession, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday.
Andrew’s arrest last week was described as unprecedented in modern British history. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said the UK government was not ruling out any steps but it would be inappropriate to comment further while police investigations are ongoing.
Albanese confirmed he had written to Starmer and was sending letters to the 14 other realms that share King Charles III as head of state, setting out Australia’s support for any move to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the succession.
He said Australia’s states and territories had also been contacted, as their consent would be required for any constitutional change affecting the monarchy.
“Australia likes being first and we have made sure that everyone knows what our position is and we'll be writing today to the other realm countries as well, informing them of our position,” Albanese told public broadcaster ABC.
In a letter to Starmer on Monday, Albanese said his government would agree to any proposal to remove Andrew from the line of succession, calling the allegations against him "grave." He said Australians were “disgusted” by revelations about the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his connections with public figures.
“King Charles has said that the law must now take its full course. There must be a full, fair and proper investigation. And that needs to occur.”
New Zealand also signalled support for any UK move. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his government would back a decision to remove Andrew from the succession once investigations conclude.
“We would definitely support whatever they come to,” Luxon told reporters, as quoted by AFP.
“The bottom line is no one is above the law, and once that investigation is closed, should the UK government decide to remove him from the line of succession, that is something we would support.”
Despite the controversy, Albanese ruled out a referendum on Australia becoming a republic, although he reiterated his personal support for an Australian head of state.
Australia, a former British colony that gained de facto independence in 1901, remains a constitutional monarchy. A 1999 referendum narrowly rejected removing Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.
