New Zealand has also said it would support the British government if it decides to remove the disgraced prince from the throne.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that he is writing to Commonwealth countries to express their support for removing former British prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession to the throne over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr Albanese’s announcement on Tuesday came as neighboring Commonwealth member New Zealand vowed to support the British government’s proposal to remove Mr Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession to the throne.
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“Australia likes to be at the front, making sure everyone understands what our position is, and today we will be writing to other regional countries to let them know our position,” Prime Minister Albanese told Australia’s ABC public broadcaster.
Mr Albanese told the ABC Australians were “disgusted” by revelations about late US sex offender Epstein’s relationships with public figures and wanted the government to make its position clear.
“King Charles said it’s time for the law to be fully in place. There must be a full, fair and proper investigation. And that needs to happen,” he added.
The 66-year-old former prince was arrested last week, detained and interrogated as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office following revelations about his dealings with Epstein.
Mr Albanese also said the UK would need to begin planning succession changes, which would require the consent of the 14 Commonwealth countries, with Charles III as head of state.
Mr Albanese wrote to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying “in light of recent events” the Australian government “is open to any proposals to remove it”. [Mountbatten-Windsor] According to Australian media, he has been removed from the line of succession to the throne.
“I agree with Her Majesty’s opinion that the law should now be fully in place and a thorough, fair and appropriate investigation carried out,” Ms Albanese wrote.
“These are serious allegations and Australians take them seriously,” he added.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said New Zealand would support the British government’s proposal to remove Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession, the British Press Association reported.
“The bottom line is that no one is above the law. If the British government decides to remove him from the line of succession after the investigation is complete, we will support that,” Luxon told reporters.
British officials have told the media that any move to change the line of succession will only take place once the police investigation into the former prince, who is eighth in line to the throne, is completed.
Mr Starmer’s official spokesperson said on Monday that the government had not ruled out any action regarding the disgraced prince, but said it would be inappropriate to comment further during the police investigation.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of her royal titles last year after her relationship with Epstein came to light, has denied any wrongdoing over her relationship with Epstein, who was ruled to have committed suicide in prison in 2019. He did not directly respond to the latest allegations of misconduct in public office.
