MPs Demand Parliamentary Review of Andrew's Succession Rights Following Arrest
Cross-party pressure is mounting in Westminster as Members of Parliament call for a formal review of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's position in the royal line of succession. This development comes after the former prince was arrested and questioned by detectives on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, specifically regarding allegations that he shared confidential material with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Current Royal Status Despite Title Removal
Despite having relinquished his royal titles in October following revelations about his connections to Epstein, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor remains eighth in line to the British throne. This position follows Princes William and Harry and their respective children in the succession order. More significantly, Andrew retains his status as a counsellor of state, placing him among the group of adult royals who could theoretically be called upon to fulfill constitutional duties if King Charles were incapacitated or abroad.
In practice, royal officials have indicated that only working royals would be utilized for such responsibilities, but Andrew's formal position has become increasingly controversial following his recent legal troubles.
Cross-Party Political Pressure
The Liberal Democrats became the first major party to formally address the issue on Friday, with party leader Ed Davey issuing a statement emphasizing that while police investigations must proceed without interference, parliament would need to consider Andrew's succession rights at the appropriate time. "The most important thing right now is that the police be allowed to get on with their job, acting without fear or favor," Davey stated. "But clearly this is an issue that parliament is going to have to consider when the time is right, naturally the Monarchy will want to make sure he can never become king."
Conservative MP Andrew Bowie, who serves as the shadow Scotland secretary, echoed similar sentiments during an interview with GB News, suggesting it would be "the decent thing" for Andrew to be removed from succession considerations. Bowie carefully noted that Andrew has not been charged or convicted of any offense, emphasizing the importance of allowing the police investigation to conclude before any parliamentary action.
Broader Parliamentary Sentiment
Labour MP Rachael Maskell, representing York Central, expressed confidence that parliament would need to take legislative action regarding Andrew's position. "From the evidence already held in the public domain, it is clear that his position as a counsellor of state and with succession rights are removed, as well as all titles," Maskell stated. "I trust that legislation can be passed to achieve this. I am glad that the king seeks to be as helpful as he can, and providing support to parliament to act would assist in this."
The Scottish National Party's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has also called for measures to eliminate any possibility of Andrew becoming head of state. Meanwhile, Labour MP Richard Burgon has advocated for an independent inquiry into what other members of the royal family knew about Andrew's connections to Epstein, while simultaneously calling for "a serious national debate about abolishing the monarchy."
Constitutional Implications and Republican Sentiment
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green party in England and Wales, which officially supports abolishing the monarchy, suggested that Andrew's case could accelerate public discussion about the institution's future. "When the public are ready to have that national conversation about the monarchy, I think issues like this certainly don't help the monarchy's case," Polanski told reporters while campaigning for upcoming byelections.
The constitutional questions raised by Andrew's situation are complex, as any change to the line of succession would require parliamentary legislation. The current crisis represents one of the most significant challenges to royal protocol in recent years, testing both constitutional conventions and public confidence in the monarchy during King Charles's reign.
