LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has urged that Prince Andrew be removed from the British royal line of succession, describing the royal’s conduct as unacceptable amid ongoing scrutiny over his past associations.
The Canadian leader made the remarks while in Japan for diplomatic discussions with the country’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. The meeting focused primarily on bilateral relations, yet questions surrounding the controversy involving the British royal surfaced during a press briefing.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Carney said the Duke of York’s actions had already led to serious consequences, including the loss of his royal titles, and should prompt further constitutional consideration regarding his position in the monarchy.
“There is a process in order to do it….But I certainly think his actions, which are deplorable and have caused him to be stripped of his royal titles, certainly… necessitate his removal from the line of succession,” Carney said.
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Prince Andrew, formally known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has faced renewed attention from investigators examining allegations of misconduct in public office linked to his dealings with the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Authorities reportedly detained and later released the royal in February over suspicions that he shared confidential information with Epstein during his tenure as a United Kingdom trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. The former royal has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Scrutiny over Andrew’s relationship with Epstein has persisted for years. One of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Giuffre, alleged that she had been trafficked to have sex with the prince on three occasions beginning in 2001, including two encounters when she was 17.
Although Andrew rejected the accusations, he reached a settlement in 2022 in a civil lawsuit filed by Giuffre in the United States without admitting liability.
Meanwhile, the debate over his future role within the monarchy has extended beyond Britain. Governments in Australia and New Zealand have recently indicated support for removing Andrew from the line of succession.
Any formal change, however, would require action from the United Kingdom and agreement from other Commonwealth realms that recognize King Charles III as head of state.
Ultimately, discussions surrounding the issue continue to unfold across the Commonwealth, reflecting growing pressure on the monarchy to address controversies that could affect public confidence in the institution.
