King likely to discuss Andrew line of succession removal with leaders,
King Charles is ‘likely to discuss’ the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession during a meeting with Commonwealth leaders today.
The monarch, 77, will join leaders of the 56 member countries to mark the annual celebrations during a service at Westminster Abbey later this afternoon.
It will also be the largest gathering of Royal Family members since Andrew’s arrest last month following allegations he shared classified information with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Charles will attend the congregation of 1,800 people, made up of politicians and diplomats later today and issue a message commending the importance of international alliances as the world faces a series of ‘testing moments’.
But in private, he is also likely to discuss removing Andrew, who denies any wrongdoing and remains under police investigation, from the line of succession.
The 66-year-old is currently eighth in line to the throne, with his removal requiring legislation in the UK and the approval of the 14 other Commonwealth realms where the King is head of state.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney became the latest Commonwealth leader to call for Andrew’s removal after describing his actions as ‘deplorable’.
It followed interventions from the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand, who previously said they would support the UK Government in any such plans.
It is understood that the UK Government will consider introducing legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession once police have finished their investigation into the King’s disgraced brother.
Sources also told the Times that no decision has yet been made on whether Andrew’s daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will also be removed.
Beatrice, 37, as the oldest of the two siblings, is ninth in line to the throne, followed by her two children and Eugenie, 35.
The pair were recently ‘blindsided’ by a decision to prevent them joining the rest of the Royal Family at Royal Ascot this year amid concerns about the unfolding scandal involving the House of York and their ties with Epstein.
Defence Secretary John Healey last month ordered a review of military files for any evidence that Epstein used RAF bases to traffic girls into the UK.
Mr Healey tasked officials with trawling through more than two decades of Ministry of Defence records and handing over to police any flight logs linked to the late paedophile financier.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Gordon Brown has written to six police forces demanding investigations into whether Andrew used jets, funded by the taxpayer, and RAF bases during his time as trade envoy to meet Epstein.
Andrew served as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with Epstein.
Elsewhere in his message today, the King will say it is when countries face ‘testing moments’, like ‘conflict, climate change and rapid transformation’, that the ‘enduring spirits’ of member-nations come to the fore.
Addressing the congregation of 1,800, made up with politicians and diplomats, he will say: ‘We join together on this Commonwealth Day at a time of great challenge and great possibility.
‘Across our world, communities and nations face the increasing pressures of conflict, climate change and rapid transformation.
‘Yet it is often in such testing moments that the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth is most clearly revealed.’
Directing his annual message to the 56 member-nations, Charles will continue: ‘Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good – grounded in community, committed to the kind of restorative sustainability that has a return on investment, enriched by culture, steadfast in its care for our planet, and united in friendship and in the service of its people.’
The message will also address climate change, with scientists dubbing 2025 the third warmest year on record, and it will raise concerns surrounding the growing presence of AI.
The King’s stance on climate change contradicts the approach taken by US President Donald Trump, who reversed a ruling that held up federal attempts to curb greenhouse gases.
This follows reports that Charles and Camilla will visit the US next month for a three-day visit to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
However the visit has faced recent criticism from senior government officials as tensions between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer continue over the Iranian conflict.
Charles and Camilla will be joined at the event by Prince William, Kate, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner, who is an ambassador for the Royal Commonwealth Society that hosts the event, will also speak to the congregation, which includes Commonwealth high commissioners and members of the creative community.
Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Oti Mabuse will also speak, while a poem will be read by the inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate, Selina Tusitala Marsh.
The multi-faith service, which has been held since 1972, will showcase the diversity of the Commonwealth through a mixture of music, dance and readings – in line with the meeting’s theme of accelerating partnerships and investment for a prosperous Commonwealth.
This will include the world premiere of the Commonwealth Symphony, composed by Rekesh Chauhan, and performances by the Royal Ballet School and the Scottish ceilidh band, the Melodians Steel Orchestra.
The BBC will not broadcast the live television coverage of the service at 3pm for the first time in 37 years due to ‘funding challenges’ – a move branded ‘ridiculous and appalling’.
The Commonwealth event, hosted by its head, is to be held before the biennial meeting this year during the first week of November in the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, St John’s.
