The prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand have joined growing calls to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession.
The former prince was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office after being accused of sharing sensitive information with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
Fresh documents shed light on Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s relationship with the convicted sex offender in January as part of a two-million-document tranche from the US Department of Justice.
Anthony Albanese wrote in a letter to UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer that Australia took the “grave allegations” against the former Duke of York seriously.
“In light of recent events concerning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, I am writing to confirm that my government would agree to any proposal to remove him from the line of royal succession,” he said.
“I agree with His Majesty that the law must now take its full course and there must be a full, fair and proper investigation.
“These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously.”
New Zealand would also support the UK government if it took the same action. A spokesperson for Christopher Luxon, the country’s prime minister, said: “If the UK government proposes to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, New Zealand would support it.”
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor spent 11 hours in custody on his 66th birthday while officers searched his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk before he was released under investigation. Police continued to search his former residence, the Royal Lodge in Berkshire, on Monday.
Elsewhere, retired civil servants told the BBC Mr Mountbatten-Windsor used taxpayers’ money for massages and excessive travel costs during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.
One ex-civil servant said they refused to pay to cover the costs of a massage for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor but was overruled by senior staff, telling the broadcaster: “I thought it was wrong… I’d said we mustn’t pay it, but we ended up paying it anyway.”
A former Whitehall official, who oversaw finances, separately told the BBC they had “absolutely no doubt” about the authenticity of the claim after having seen similar expenses for his overseas trips.
In a video-taped interview under oath in 2009, Epstein’s former Florida housekeeper Juan Alessi said Mr Mountbatten-Windsor would have “daily massages” when he visited the disgraced financier.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing over his links to the convicted sex offender, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.
The CEO of anti-monarch organisation Republic has called for a wider inquiry after he reported the former prince to Thames Valley Police for misconduct in public office.
Graham Smith said: “The royals should be treated like any other public figure, challenged by the BBC, questioned in committees by MPs, investigated when necessary by the police and in no way above or beyond the law.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the Department for Business and Trade should open its files on Mr Mountbatten-Windsor if they relate to “allegations of misconduct in public office”.
She said: “Prince Andrew would have been given that because it could open doors, but if there is anything in these allegations of misconduct in public office, then all the files should be released and investigated.”
Ahead of opposition day in the House of Commons on Tuesday, the Liberal Democrats said they will seek a debate to further scrutinise Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s former role as the UK’s trade envoy.
