Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to say he would back any UK government plan to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession, a statement shared by Starmer's office said.
"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," the statement said.
Last week, a UK official said the British government was considering introducing legislation to ensure Mountbatten-Windsor, currently eighth-in-line to the throne, could never be king following his arrest as part of a police investigation into his alleged ties with Jeffrey Epstein.
King Charles is not only the Monarch and Head of State in Britain, but also in Australia and 13 other countries.
"I agree with His Majesty that the law must now take its full course and there must be a full, fair and proper investigation," Albanese letter said.
"These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously," he added.
Meanwhile, a senior Conservative MP and the former Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, has raised the prospect of treason as he calls for a parliamentary inquiry into Epstein-linked allegations involving the former prince and Lord Mandelson, citing potential foreign influence and national security risks.
In an interview with The Sun on Sunday newspaper, Tugendhat said the body should have powers to summon witnesses and demand documents to examine claims of foreign influence and national security risks linked to the Epstein scandal.
Tugendhat questioned what ministers and the Palace knew about the allegations and whether Britain’s treason laws, written more than 700 years ago, need to be updated. He said Parliament must consider what the scandal means for the country beyond a court's decision.
Under UK law, treason includes plotting the death of the monarch, waging war against the Crown, or aiding the King’s enemies. If proven, it is one of the most serious crimes in British law.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Mandelson are both under police investigation for alleged misconduct in public office.
Former Prince Andrew was arrested and released last week and is under investigation over claims he allegedly passed confidential reports while serving as a trade envoy. Mandelson is alleged to have shared market-sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein while a government minister. Both deny any wrongdoing.
If treason were proven, it would be one of the gravest crimes against the Crown and therefore against Andrew's mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The last person convicted of treason in the UK, Jaswant Singh Chail, was jailed in 2023 over a plot to kill Queen Elizabeth, for which he was sentenced to nine years. He was arrested on Christmas Day in 2021 at Windsor Castle with a crossbow. He pleaded guilty under the Treason Act 1842.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including thr...
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the&nb...
Up to 30 tonnes of food will be delivered to Iran amidst ongoing hostilities with U.S. and Israel, following a phone converstation between the ...
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israe...
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientif...
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
The fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal is again stirring debate in Britain. Could the repercussions of the disgraced U.S. financier and convicted child sex trafficker force greater political accountability in the UK - or will they fade as yet another passing Westminster storm?
The UK has pledged to step up engagement with Beijing after Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the case resurfacing as a key issue following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent trip to Beijing.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment