London , 21 February (H.S.):

Britain's government signaled on Friday, its intent to pursue legislation barring Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—currently eighth in line to the throne—from royal succession once Thames Valley Police concludes its investigation into his Jeffrey Epstein ties, marking an unprecedented parliamentary intervention in monarchical lineage.

The deliberations follow Andrew's arrest on Thursday, February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office, prompted by newly unsealed Epstein files revealing his sharing of confidential 2010 Southeast Asia trade reports—covering stops in Hanoi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong—with the convicted sex trafficker.

Detectives raided his Windsor residence again, interviewing former protection officers, amid claims he breached the Official Secrets Act as UK's trade envoy; Andrew was released hours later but remains under scrutiny.

Enacting removal demands a bespoke parliamentary act, diverging from 2013 reforms prioritizing gender equality over primogeniture, and necessitates consultations with 14 Commonwealth realms where King Charles III reigns as head of state, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

An anonymous senior official confirmed the post-probe timeline, while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urged swift action to preclude Andrew's kingship, echoing SNP and Labour calls for broader royal inquiries.

King Charles III had already stripped Andrew of prince, HRH, and military titles last October 2025, alongside evicting him from Royal Lodge, yet succession persists absent statutory bar—unlike Edward VIII's 1936 abdication.

A Friday YouGov poll showed 82% public support for excision, fueled by Virginia Giuffre's settled 2022 allegations (she died by suicide last year) and Epstein document disclosures of Andrew's itinerary shares and confidential briefs.The palace affirmed Charles's backing of the probe, underscoring familial rift amid anti-monarchy agitation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar