Lawmakers are reportedly trying to ensure that the Epstein-linked royal is permanently barred from inheriting the throne
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing pressure from members of Parliament to support a measure that would permanently remove ex-Prince Andrew, the disgraced brother of King Charles III, from the royal line of succession, The Telegraph reported on Friday.
Several MPs have argued that any possibility of Andrew ascending the throne must be eliminated following the recent decision to strip him of his titles and privileges. The move came amid long-standing allegations of sexual misconduct linked to his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has denied accusations that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl trafficked to him by the late financier.
Andrew is currently eighth in line to the British throne, after Prince William, his three children, Prince Harry, and Harry’s two children. Under UK law, any change to the royal succession requires an act of Parliament, which must also be endorsed by the legislatures of other Commonwealth realms recognizing the monarch as head of state.
“In the event of an unimaginable family catastrophe, Andrew could still inherit the throne,” Labour MP Jon Trickett told The Telegraph. “The British people would never accept that – this issue must be resolved once and for all.”
Independent MP Rachael Maskell added that “whatever the likelihood of such an occurrence, it would be appropriate to remove him from the line of succession and revoke his status as counsellor of state,” referring to the position that allows him to act on the King’s behalf in certain circumstances. Buckingham Palace has said Andrew will not be called upon to fulfill any such duties.
Public opinion strongly backs the recent disciplinary measures. In a YouGov poll conducted this week, 79% of respondents support stripping Andrew of his titles and evicting him from the Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, compared to just 6% who oppose the decision. More than half say King Charles handled the matter appropriately, while 58% say the royal family acted too slowly.
