London, Feb 23, (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – The Australian prime minister has written to British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to say his government would back “any proposal” to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, from the line of succession to the British throne.
The former prince was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, after being accused of sharing sensitive information with paedophile financier, Jeffrey Epstein, while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
In his statement to Starmer, Anthony Albanese said Andrew was facing “grave allegations”, adding: “Australians take them seriously.”
Andrew spent 11 hours in custody on his 66th birthday, while officers searched his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk before he was released under investigation.
Albanese’s letter read: “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.
“I agree with His Majesty that the law must now take its full course and there must be a full, fair and proper investigation.
“These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously.”
Elsewhere, retired civil servants told the BBC, Andrew used taxpayers’ money for massages and excessive travel costs during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.
One ex-civil servant said they refused to pay to cover the costs of a massage for Andrew, but was overruled by senior staff, telling the broadcaster: “I thought it was wrong… I’d said we mustn’t pay it, but we ended up paying it anyway.”
A former Whitehall official, who oversaw finances, separately told the BBC they had “absolutely no doubt” about the authenticity of the claim, after having seen similar expenses for his overseas trips.
GNA