prime minister Mark Carney said Friday he believes Andrew Mountbatten Windsor should be excluded from the British throne because of his “deplorable” actions, but stressed that he would respect the process currently taking place in the country.
“I do personally, yes,” Carney told reporters in Tokyo when asked about the former Prince Andrew.
“There is a process (under way) of defining that process, but I certainly think that his actions, which are regrettable and have resulted in him being stripped of his royal title, are certainly a merit, if that is the right word – necessary is a better word – his removal from the line of succession. Even though he is well advanced in the line of succession, I think the point, the principle, remains.”
Of note were the comments that came from the leader of a member of the Commonwealth, all 14 of which would have to agree to a change in the line of succession.
Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal status last year about his close ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. As the younger brother of King Charles III. However, he remains eighth in line to the throne.
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The UK government confirmed last month that it was “not ruling out measures” to change this later Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office following the US Justice Department’s release last month of millions of pages of Epstein-related files.
Those documents led to allegations that the former prince shared confidential trade information with the disgraced financier when he served as Britain’s trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.
Mountbatten-Windsor was released without charge after about 11 hours in custody, but he remains under investigation.
“The government is clear that we are not ruling out action on the succession plan at this stage and we will consider whether further steps are necessary in due course,” Darren Jones, chief secretary to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, told MPs after the arrest.
To remove someone from the line of succession, a resolution from Parliament would be required. which requires the consent of the legislature.
According to the current royal line of succession, Charles’ son Prince William is the heir apparent and his three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – are next in line. Prince Harry is fifth, while his two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are in sixth and seventh place.
Mountbatten-Windsor – who was second in line to the throne when he was born – currently follows them in eighth place. His daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are in ninth and twelfth place.
Australia and New Zealand have said they would support any plan by the British government to exclude Mountbatten-Windsor.
“These are serious allegations and Australians take them seriously,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote in a letter to Starmer last month.
“I agree with His Majesty that the law must now take its full course and there must be a full, fair and proper investigation.”
– with files from Associated Press
&Copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
