Legal and constitutional hurdles prevent King Charles and Prince William from removing him
Despite growing public criticism, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor remains in the British royal line of succession, and removing him is far more complicated than many might expect.
The Duke, who stepped back from royal duties following controversy surrounding his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, currently sits eighth in line to the throne. Although he has lost several royal titles and official roles, his place in the succession has not changed.
Reports suggest that both King Charles and Prince William have looked into whether it would be possible to remove him from the line. However, constitutional rules and historic legislation make such a move extremely difficult.
Why Andrew is still in the succession
According to sources speaking to OK! Magazine, the main issue is that there is no clear legal mechanism that allows a monarch to remove an individual from the line of succession on their own.
The order of succession is determined by law, not by the personal decision of the King or senior royals. Changing it would require new legislation passed by Parliament.
One of the key legal foundations involved is the Act of Settlement 1701, which established the current framework for determining who inherits the British throne. The law ensured that the crown would pass to the Protestant descendants of Electress Sophia of Hanover, bypassing dozens of Catholic claimants.
Another major complication comes from the Statute of Westminster 1931, which grants legislative independence to Commonwealth realms such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Because the monarch is also head of state in those countries, any change to the succession rules would need approval across multiple nations.
Frustration behind the scenes
Sources claim the complexity of the situation has caused frustration among senior royals.
“There is a palpable sense William and Charles are seething behind the scenes over the labyrinthine complications stopping Andrew from being removed from the line of succession,” one insider reportedly said.
According to the source, while public opinion may favour change, the constitutional framework makes it extremely difficult to act quickly.
“They would love to see swift action, but the system is so complex that even beginning the process raises questions that do not have straightforward answers,” the insider added.
For now, Andrew’s position in the succession remains unchanged, highlighting how deeply rooted legal traditions continue to shape the structure of the British monarchy.
