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Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from the royal line of succession.
The former prince remains eighth in line to the throne despite being stripped of his titles in October amid pressure over his ties to the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office last month after being accused of sharing confidential material with Epstein. He has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Carney said he thought the former Duke of York’s “deplorable” actions should result in his removal from the line of succession.
Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England, added: “Even though he is well down the line, the point of principle stands.”
Last month Australia’s prime minister told the UK’s Sir Keir Starmer that his government would back plans to remove Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession.
Anthony Albanese told Sir Keir: “I am writing to confirm that my government would agree to any proposal to remove him from the line of royal succession.
“These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously.”
New Zealand’s PM Christopher Luxon echoed Albanese’s call, telling reporters last month: “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.”
Defence Minister Luke Pollard told the BBC the move – which would prevent Mountbatten-Windsor from ever becoming King – was the “right thing to do,” regardless of the outcome of the police investigation.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions programme, Pollard confirmed the government had “absolutely” been working with Buckingham Palace on the plans to stop the former prince from “potentially being a heartbeat away from the throne”.
Any plan to remove him from the line of succession would require an act of Parliament, which would have to be approved by MPs and peers and would come into effect when given royal assent by King Charles III, his brother.
It would also need to be supported by the 14 Commonwealth countries where the King is the head of state.
The last time someone was removed from the line of succession by an act of Parliament was in 1936, when the former Edward VIII and his descendants were removed due to his abdication.
Buckingham Palace has not publicly commented on the government’s consideration of legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession.
