London, Feb 21 (.) The British government is considering formally removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession, following his arrest over revelations in the documents related to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Any such move would require an act of Parliament, a lengthy and politically uncertain process that would also likely have to be approved by other Commonwealth countries, such as Canada and Australia, where the British monarch is the head of state.
The former Prince Andrew became the first British royal in centuries to be arrested Thursday. He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released “under investigation” hours later, meaning he has been neither charged nor exonerated.
The Thames Valley Police force earlier this month said it was looking into a claim that the former prince, while serving as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy in 2010, had shared confidential documents with the late convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct while in public office, not for any offenses involving his many documented encounters with young women linked to Epstein.
Among the trove of documents released by the U.S. government are emails indicating the royal may have shared confidential U.K. government information with Epstein about his trips to Southeast Asia, and possible investment opportunities in Afghanistan, in 2010-2011, CBS reported.
Andrew was an official trade representative for the British government at the time.
Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein but has made no comment on his arrest this week or allegations arising from the recent release of Epstein files.
Previously, the controversy swirling around Mountbatten-Windsor centered on the accusations of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who alleged that Epstein trafficked her to his powerful friends, including the former prince.
In 2022, the royal reached a settlement in a sexual assault case brought by Giuffre for an undisclosed amount without admitting any wrongdoing. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied ever meeting Guiffre, who died by suicide last year.
Despite being stripped of his remaining royal titles last year, Mountbatten-Windsor remains eighth in line to succeed his brother King Charles III, though it is highly unlikely he would ever be crowned.
At birth, he was second in line to succeed his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, behind Charles, but he has moved steadily down the line as Charles’ own family has grown.
Mountbatten-Windsor is now behind Prince William and his three children, as well as Prince Harry and his two children.
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