The British government is weighing plans to introduce legislation that would remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession, a move that would prevent King Charles III’s brother from ever becoming monarch, ministers said this week.
The proposal comes amid ongoing legal scrutiny of Andrew and broader concerns about how the monarchy handles reputational crises.
Defence Secretary Luke Pollard told BBC Radio 4 that the government had “absolutely” been working with Buckingham Palace on plans to bar Andrew from ascending the throne, describing it as the “right thing to do” regardless of the outcome of police investigations.
Pollard said the move could receive cross-party support but stressed it should only proceed after the current police work concludes.
Andrew, 64, who was previously stripped of his military titles and royal patronages in October, still sits eighth in the line of succession under current rules. He was arrested this month on suspicion of misconduct in public office and was later released under investigation; he has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray told the BBC that any changes to the succession would be legally complex and that the ongoing police inquiry needs to “play out” before any legislation is introduced.
Police have continued activity at Royal Lodge, the 30-room Windsor property long associated with Andrew, with several unmarked vehicles and search operations reported this weekend. In addition to the main inquiry by Thames Valley Police, other forces across the UK are assessing whether to open related investigations, a former government adviser noted, warning the process could take “considerable time.”
Support for removing Andrew from the succession has emerged from multiple political parties, including the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party (SNP), although some Labour lawmakers argued it may be unnecessary given the low likelihood of Andrew ever becoming king.
Historians and constitutional experts have said the crisis has prompted both government and palace officials to consider structural changes as a way to “draw a firewall” between the controversy involving Andrew and the broader future of the monarchy.
