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.
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Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships ...
The U.S. plans to seek the redirection of Iranian assets to Gulf states to help fund reconstruction and repairs for damage attributed to Iran, a sourc...
At least a dozen people were wounded, two critically, on Saturday (6 June) in Toledo, Ohio, as two shooters traded gunfire, police said....
China and Britain sat down for a major round of talks in Beijing on Tuesday and walked away with a clear message that the two countries want a better, closer relationship and that they are actively working to build one.
The United Kingdom has begun using SpaceX's Starshield satellite network for military operations, according to people familiar with the matter, marking one of the first known deployments of the secure government-focused system outside the U.S.
Protesters chanted “I can’t breathe” and threw bins at police in Southampton on Tuesday (2 June) after footage emerged showing murdered teenager Henry Nowak being arrested as he lay dying from a stab wound.
Police officers were pelted with missiles during violent clashes at a protest near the Southampton, UK, home of convicted murderer Vickrum Digwa, as anger continued to grow over the handling of the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S. visa approvals continues to cast a shadow over the country's tournament preparations.
At least a dozen people were wounded, two critically, on Saturday (6 June) in Toledo, Ohio, as two shooters traded gunfire, police said.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 7 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al‑Zaidi will pay an official visit to the United States, bringing with him a delegation of business leaders, private‑sector representatives and banking officials, in an effort to boost investment and deepen economic ties with Washington.
People across Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions struggling to access food, clean water, shelter and medical care as the conflict continues.
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