Prince Andrew hasn’t been a working royal for years. But on paper, he’s still eighth in line to the British throne. Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, thinks it’s time to change that.
It’s a move that sounds like a simple paperwork fix, but it’s actually a massive diplomatic headache. To cut Andrew out, the UK and all 14 other Commonwealth realms—including Australia—would have to agree on a legal change.
The law doesn’t care about reputations
The Duke of York stepped back from public life in 2019 following his disastrous interview about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Since then, his military titles have been stripped and his public role has essentially vanished.
But the law that governs who gets the crown doesn’t care about bad press. The line of succession is set in stone by centuries of legislation. To move a name or skip a person, you have to change the law itself.
A complicated legal path
Changing the succession isn’t like changing a lightbulb. The last major update happened in 2013 with the Succession to the Crown Act. That change finally allowed daughters to have the same rights as sons. It took years of legal wrangling across the globe to make it official.
- Every Commonwealth realm must pass similar legislation.
- The UK Parliament has to lead the charge.
- It requires a level of international cooperation that rarely happens quickly.
Albanese told reporters he supports the idea of removing Andrew from the list. It’s not just about one man’s reputation, though. For many in Australia, this conversation is a sign of a growing distance between the country and the monarchy.
Is this about more than just Andrew?
The Australian government already has a Minister for the Republic. This signals they eventually want to cut ties with the monarchy altogether. Backing Andrew’s removal might be a small legal step, but it’s a clear message about where Australia sees its future.
So far, Buckingham Palace has stayed quiet on the matter. King Charles now faces a difficult choice. He can keep his brother on the list and deal with the constant PR nightmare, or he can open a constitutional can of worms that might lead to more countries questioning their royal ties.
The line of succession is meant to provide stability, but right now, it’s mostly providing a reason for the world to keep talking about the royal family’s biggest scandals.