New Zealand has become the second Commonwealth country to support removing Prince Andrew from the royal line of succession, following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Tuesday that if the UK government proposes to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, New Zealand would back the move.
Luxon later told media that his government had been in contact with the UK Cabinet Office, adding: “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.”
The announcement came after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed in a letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday that Australia would also support the removal. Speaking on Tuesday, Albanese described the allegations against Andrew as “really serious” and said Australians “don’t want a bar of this bloke.”
Andrew, who is eighth in line to the throne, relinquished his royal titles in October after new information emerged about his links to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and child sex offender. Despite this, he remains a counsellor of state, though only working royals are used in practice. Removing him from the succession would require an act of the UK parliament and support from the 14 Commonwealth realms where King Charles is head of state.
The British government is expected to consider legislation to strip Andrew of his right to inherit the throne once a police investigation is finalised. Andrew was arrested on 19 February, believed to be the first time in modern history a royal has been held by police. He has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any criminal offence. Buckingham Palace has said it would not obstruct any plans to remove him from the succession.
