Calls for Prince Andrew to be stripped of his position in the line of succession have grown stronger following his recent arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office on his 66th birthday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to discuss removing Andrew from the line of succession after ongoing police investigations into the allegations against him. Any decision to remove Andrew would require an Act of Parliament and agreement from the 14 British realms.

Currently eighth in line to the throne, Andrew’s removal would likely lead to Princess Beatrice moving up a spot. Beatrice would then take over her father’s position as eighth in line, with her eldest daughter moving to ninth. Despite being a counsellor of state, Andrew and Prince Harry are considered surplus to the royal family’s requirements, making it impossible for Andrew to fulfill that role.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed support for removing Andrew from the line of succession in light of the recent events. Any changes to the line of succession must be agreed upon by the 14 Commonwealth countries where King Charles serves as head of state.

Various political figures, including Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, have emphasized the need for Parliament to address Andrew’s place in the line of succession. Recent polling shows that a majority of Britons believe Andrew should be removed from the line of succession, prompting calls for a statutory inquiry and a debate on the monarchy’s future.

Following his release from custody, detectives continue to search Andrew’s former residence, Royal Lodge, as part of the ongoing investigation. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing related to his associations with Jeffrey Epstein but has not directly responded to the recent allegations.