The host of he BRIT Awards has made a shocking swipe at disgraced royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The titular event, considered British music’s biggest night, is intended as a celebration of the arts – however host Jack Whitehall could not resist throwing in a pointed dig at the former prince.
As Whitehall introduced James Blunt to the stage to announce the winner for Artist of the Year, he alluded to the singer’s long-time connection to the royal family in a quip that had the audience in fits.
Jack Whitehall took aim at disgraced former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at the BRIT Awards. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
In a bold move, Whitehall joked that Blunt was “30th in line to the throne… but by next week, he may be 29th.”
The former prince Andrew is currently the subject of intense discourse surrounding his position in the royal line of succession, amid ongoing fallout over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Blunt is a well-known friend within the York family circle, having met then-prince Andrew’s daughter, Princess Eugenie, at an Ibiza nightclub in 2009.
The pair soon became fast friends – with the singer even attending the princess’ wedding to Jack Brooksbank in 2018.
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James Blunt has long-time ties with Andrew’s daughter Princess Eugenie. (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Loc)
Andrew is currently eighth in line for the throne, however, King Charles and the royal family remain under intense pressure to have him removed from the line of succession altogether.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, affirming that the Australian government would back “any proposal” to remove Andrew from the line of succession in future.
“Australians take [these allegations] seriously,” Albanese wrote.
This move comes after the 66-year-old’s recent arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with accusations he shared confidential information with Epstein.
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Andrew was questioned for nearly 12 hours at a police station in Norfolk after he was taken into custody during an early-morning raid at his temporary home, Wood Farm.
Dramatic images of Andrew being driven in a car have since been beamed around the world and are a stark reminder of how far the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II has fallen.
Carloads of police arrived at the former bolthole of his father Prince Philip at about 8am on February 19 (London time) and arrested Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The former prince has since been released.
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