Australia will support a plan to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from ever becoming king, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed overnight.
The embattled former prince was stripped of his titles by King Charles III last year over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, however he remains eighth in line to the throne.
As calls grow for the British government to strip Mountbatten-Windsor of his succession rights after his arrest last week, Albanese has written to his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, to confirm Australia wants no chance of him becoming our head of state.
'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,' Albanese wrote.
'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.'
On Tuesday morning, Albanese went further, telling ABC Radio that 'Australians are disgusted by all of the revelations about the Epstein files and the connections between Epstein and various public figures.'
A change to the line of succession will likely require legislation from the UK and all other countries where King Charles is head of state - including Australia.
Anthony Albanese is the first leader of a Commonwealth country to confirm support of laws to strip Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his succession rights
He described the allegations against Andrew as 'grave' in a letter to British PM Keir Starmer
The disgraced royal was arrested last week under suspicion of misconduct in public office
Albanese said he had also written to Australia's states and territories about the matter, which will also need to pass legislation to help strip Mountbatten-Windsor's succession rights.
'We initiated it. Australia likes being first,' Albanese said, before maintaining there were no plans to reignite the Republican debate.
'I'm a Republican. His Majesty King Charles is very aware of that as well, but the government doesn't have any plans to hold a referendum.'
Albanese is also expected to write to the leaders of the other 14 Commonwealth nations on Tuesday about the matter.
A spokesman for the British PM confirmed receipt of Albanese's letter.
'We are considering whether further steps are required in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and we are not ruling anything out,' the spokesman added.
'But given the ongoing police investigation it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment further at this stage.'
The disgraced royal was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Thursday, with police raiding his properties in Sandringham, Norfolk and Windsor, Berkshire.
Police raided Mountbatten-Windsor's properties in Sandringham, Norfolk and Windsor
Mountbatten-Windsor was released under investigation after 11 hours of questioning.
He stands accused of sharing sensitive information with Epstein while he was working as the UK's trade envoy.
At least nine police forces in the UK are believed to have launched investigations into accusations made against Mountbatten-Windsor.
He has not been charged with any offence.
