Anthony Albanese said he voluntarily wrote to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying he would support the stripping of former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession.
“I wrote to him, and then I texted with him to tell him that that was on its way. And we engaged. And he thanked me for our position,” the prime minister told ABC Radio National.
“Any amendment to the line of succession would be initiated by the United Kingdom. And what would have to happen would be all 14 realm countries in the Commonwealth, that is, those who still had the Crown as their head of state, would have to agree.”
Albanese said he initiated the move and would write to other countries today to inform them of Australia’s position.
“Australia likes being first, and we have made sure that everyone knows what our position is,” he said.
Asked why he wanted to lead the way when the matter hadn’t yet been through the courts, he said: “What we’re doing is preparing, and already Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – the fact that we’re calling him that rather than Prince Andrew, indicates that there’s already been moves along these lines.”
“Australians are disgusted by all of the revelations about the Epstein files and the connections between Epstein and various public figures, and they want the Australian government to be clear about our position, and that is precisely what I have done,” he said.
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