Australia Joins Growing International Pressure to Remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from Royal Succession
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has formally endorsed calls to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession to the British throne. This development follows the former prince's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, linked to his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Arrest and Allegations Spark Global Concern
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who remains eighth in line to the throne, was arrested on his 66th birthday. He spent eleven hours in custody while police conducted searches at his residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The arrest stems from accusations that he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his tenure as the UK's trade envoy.
Fresh documents from the US Department of Justice, part of a two-million-document release, have shed new light on the extent of their relationship. In a video-taped interview from 2009, Epstein's former housekeeper Juan Alessi stated that Mountbatten-Windsor received "daily massages" during visits to the financier's properties.
Political Reactions and Demands for Transparency
In a letter to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Albanese emphasized that Australia takes the "grave allegations" seriously. He wrote, "In light of recent events concerning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, I am writing to confirm that my government would agree to any proposal to remove him from the line of royal succession." Albanese added his support for a full investigation, aligning with King Charles III's stance that the law must run its course.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called on the Department for Business and Trade to open its files related to Mountbatten-Windsor's role. She argued, "If there is anything in these allegations of misconduct in public office, then all the files should be released and investigated." Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats plan to use an opposition day in the House of Commons to scrutinize his former position as trade envoy further.
Additional Claims of Misuse of Public Funds
Retired civil servants have come forward with allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor misused taxpayers' money during his time as trade envoy. One former official told the BBC they refused to cover massage expenses but were overruled by senior staff. Another ex-Whitehall finance overseer confirmed seeing similar questionable expenses for overseas trips, stating they had "absolutely no doubt" about the authenticity of these claims.
Calls for Broader Inquiry and Accountability
Graham Smith, CEO of the anti-monarchist group Republic, has reported Mountbatten-Windsor to Thames Valley Police and is pushing for a wider inquiry. Smith asserted, "The royals should be treated like any other public figure, challenged by the BBC, questioned in committees by MPs, investigated when necessary by the police and in no way above or beyond the law."
Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing regarding his links to Epstein but has not directly addressed the latest allegations. As investigations continue, with police searching his former residence at Royal Lodge in Berkshire, the international and domestic pressure mounts for accountability and potential changes to the royal succession.
