Independent MPs want the former prince, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, to be removed from the royal line of succession to prevent him ever becoming King of the Commonwealth that includes Australia.
King Charles stripped his younger brother of his titles and honours last week amid ongoing revelations about his long friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, sparking debate in Commonwealth countries about whether Andrew should keep his place as eighth in line to the throne.
The former prince has been stripped of his titles and honours.Credit: AP
Experts say Australia and the other 13 Commonwealth realms would require matching laws to ensure the former prince could not be considered an heir to the throne.
There is precedent for similar changes. More than a decade ago, Australia passed laws to strip male heirs of priority in the line of succession after Princess Charlotte, the second child of Prince William and Princess Catherine, was born.
Independent Australian MPs said Australia should advocate for the change to deal with Mountbatten Windsor. West Australian teal MP Kate Chaney said the prime minister should leverage his relationship with the UK prime minister to bring up the issue.
“Given Virginia Giuffre’s personal connections to Australia, Anthony Albanese should be encouraging his mate Keir Starmer to start the natural next step – removing Andrew from the line of succession,” Chaney said. “No Australian wants any possibility of Andrew being our head of state.”
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who died by suicide at her home in Western Australia earlier this year, detailed allegations of sexual assault against the former prince in a memoir that was published posthumously.
Sophie Scamps, who represents Mackellar on Sydney’s northern beaches, said: “No matter what your position is on the royal family, I don’t think Australians would stand for a man that has allegedly used his power and position to prey on vulnerable girls and young women”.
Mountbatten Windsor has repeatedly denied meeting Roberts Giuffre, denied having sex with her and rejected her claims of sexual assault.