Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor latest: Palace ‘won’t oppose’ Starmer’s plan to remove former prince from line of succession

On Thursday, America woke up to the news that Andrew (the artist formerly known as Prince) had been arrested over serious allegations made in the Epstein files. And you know what? It felt good.

There has been much consternation in the U.K. about the fact that Andrew’s “punishment” for alleged bad behavior looked very much like being handed a fancy free house and a lavishly funded retirement in obscurity. If that’s what you get for being a creep, then you might find a lot of similarly sweatless men lining up to be publicly “shamed” for their past misgivings.

Widely purported to have been the late Queen’s “favourite” child, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has suffered a sharp fall from grace over the past decade.

Ex-security minister and MP Tom Tugendhat has said Parliament should investigate whether former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Peter Mandelson have committed treason, according to The Sun.

MPs, peers and retired judges should assess evidence, summon witnesses and review documents in order to explore Mountbatten-Windsor and Mandelson’s links to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has called for an investigation into whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor used RAF jets to meet disgraced financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to documents seen by the Telegraph.

Mr Brown wrote letters to six police forces asking that civil servants be questioned regarding the claims. He has further demanded a full investigation into the former prince’s trade envoy role.

The letters were reportedly sent to police in London, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, Norfolk and Bedfordshire this week, but their content was kept private.

In the documents, it is now suggested that Mr Brown said reports of a “wholly unacceptable” use of public money such as the alleged use of the jets be looked into.

Searches continued at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s previous home on Saturday, as the Government’s pledge to consider removing him from the line of succession following police investigations was backed by the Liberal Democrats.

Andrew was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegations were made against him following the release of files related to paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

Despite being stripped of his title last year, the former Duke of York is still eighth in line to the throne and an Act of Parliament would be required to remove Andrew and prevent him from ever becoming king.

King Charles will not oppose plans to remove his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession, royal sources have told The Guardian.

Calls are growing for the former prince to be cut from a claim to the throne due to his association with disgraced financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on his birthday on Thursday and held for 11 hours for questioning. Police searches on his property continue.

A YouGov poll revealed that 82 per cent of Britons believe he should be removed from the line of succession and several politicians including Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davy.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly reviewing plans for an Act of Parliament to be passed to enable the removal.

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace told The Independent that the issue is “a matter for Parliament”.

Life will never be the same again for Britain’s royal family. The Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal has rocked the institution to the core. Rather like the banking crisis of 2008, when the authorities were desperate to avoid contagion dragging down other banks, they are keen to prevent the spread.

For a body that likes to remain discreet and private, this is a transforming, unnerving prospect. Andrew’s troubles have shone an unwelcome light on not only his, but all of their living and financial arrangements. It’s not that the other royals have anything particular to hide – we don’t know – but rather that so much has hitherto been off limits. To release all the detail, to suddenly go from nothing to everything, as they might well be required to, is bound to provoke shock and anger.

Chris Blackhurst reports:

Searches are expected to continue at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s previous home as the Government vowed to consider removing him from the line of succession once police investigations have concluded.

Despite being stripped of his title last year, the former Duke of York is still eighth in line to the throne and an Act of Parliament would be required to remove Andrew and prevent him from ever becoming king.