Buckingham Palace sent a representative to request that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor relinquish his place in the line of succession, a royal author has claimed.
Tom Bower, the writer behind Betrayal, whose comments inside prompted a response from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, made the suggestion about the former Duke of York in an interview with the editor-at-large of The Sun, Harry Cole.
When asked about conversations being had with Andrew’s line of succession, Mr Bower said: “As I understand it, someone went up to Sandringham last Saturday from the Palace to suggest to Andrew that you voluntarily give up the succession, and he can do that.
“He can sign a form saying ‘he renounces the succession’. That ends it straight away, and that would be the cleanest solution.”
A royal author claimed ‘someone went up to Sandringham last Saturday from the Palace to suggest to Andrew that you voluntarily give up the succession’ | GETTY
The author continued: “As the emissary said, they gave me the dirty work to do, but it’s a good thing that they’ve started it, and that’s the way to handle it.”
When questioned whether or not the former Duke of York will accept the request, Mr Bower said: “I think that he’ll be made an offer he can’t refuse because in the end, he is totally dependent on his brother.”
An Act of Parliament would be required for Andrew to give up his line to the throne if the former Duke of York relinquished his position.
The biographer claimed that Queen Camilla allegedly told a friend, “Meghan brainwashed Harry”, in his new book, Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family.
Andrew is currently residing at Wood Farm in Sandringham
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GETTYThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex hit out at Mr Bower following his suggestions.
In a statement released over the weekend, the couple wrote: “This is someone who has publicly stated, ‘the monarchy in fact depends on actually obliterating the Sussexes from our state of life,’ language that speaks for itself.
“He has made a career out of constructing ever more elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met. Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him.”
Much discussion has been held about Andrew’s position in the line of succession, where he currently sits eighth behind Prince William and his three children, and Prince Harry and his two children.
Andrew pictured heading back to Wood Farm after being released under investigation on suspicion of misconduct in public office
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REUTERSAustralian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to Sir Keir Starmer expressing his Government’s willingness to back any proposal for Andrew’s removal from the succession.
“These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously,” Mr Albanese stated in his correspondence.
New Zealand has similarly signalled its support, with a spokesman for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirming: “If the UK Government proposes to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, New Zealand would support it.”
To date, no Commonwealth nation has indicated opposition to removing Andrew from the line of succession.
The majority of Britons would back Andrew being removed from the line of succession
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Four in five Britons have backed calls for Andrew to be removed from the line of succession following the former prince’s arrest.
A YouGov survey revealed that 82 per cent of Britons feel the former Duke of York is no longer suitable to be in line to the throne, following recent developments surrounding the former prince.
The calls come following the release of the Epstein files, which appear to show Andrew being pictured and named numerous times.
Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing with his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
GB News has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.