Christopher Luxon has pledged New Zealand’s support for ejecting Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal succession order.

The New Zealand Prime Minister’s office released a statement confirming Wellington would back any British proposal to remove the disgraced former prince from the throne’s line of inheritance.

A spokesman for Luxon said: “If the UK Government proposes to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, New Zealand would support it.

“The UK Government has said any proposals would come after the police investigation concludes.”

The Express reported on how Thames Valley officers took Andrew into custody in the early hours of Thursday over alleged misconduct in public office. Andrew denies any wrongdoing in connection with evidence released in the Epstein files.

Despite losing his royal titles in late 2024, he currently occupies the eighth position in the succession hierarchy.

Coordinated Commonwealth legislation needed

UK lawmakers are exploring legislative options to expunge Mountbatten-Windsor from the succession list — a constitutional change that demands approval from all 15 Commonwealth realms, each of which must enact matching domestic laws.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has already contacted Sir Keir Starmer in writing to confirm Canberra’s backing for any succession removal proposal.

“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.”

Monarch promises full police access

King Charles III issued an exceptionally rare personally signed public statement immediately following the arrest, pledging unrestricted Buckingham Palace cooperation with investigators while insisting: “The law must take its course.”

At 66, Andrew maintains his position as eighth in the succession queue.

Prince William heads the list, followed by his three children, then Prince Harry and Harry’s two offspring — all ranking ahead of Andrew.

New Zealand’s Governor-General website still references Andrew using his stripped title “Duke of York” in succession documentation.

Wellington awaiting formal notification

Last week, Luxon’s office confirmed no official correspondence or guidance had arrived from either Buckingham Palace or Westminster regarding potential succession modifications, reports the New Zealand Herald.

When Andrew’s title stripping was announced last November, Luxon told the Herald that succession questions fell under “a matter for the UK, obviously in consultation with Realm countries.”

He added, “We’ll have a part to play in that but I haven’t sought specific advice from New Zealand on that … We haven’t received any notification from the Palace or from the UK.”

Pressed on whether he personally favoured removing Andrew from succession, Luxon deflected to royal authority states the report.

Asked if he wanted to see Mountbatten-Windsor be removed from the line of succession, Luxon is said to have responded: “Those are decisions for the Palace. I support the King’s decisions and I’ll continue to support the Palace’s decisions.”

Parliamentary approval mandatory

New Zealand’s Royal Succession Act 2013 — which mirrors equivalent legislation throughout the UK and Commonwealth nations — governs inheritance rules for the throne.

Wellington’s Parliament would require either amended legislation or entirely new statutes to formalise Andrew’s removal.

Justice Minister Amy Adams celebrated the 2013 Act’s implementation in 2015, highlighting three landmark reforms it delivered according to the Herald:

• The order of succession will no longer be based on gender and will allow an elder daughter to precede a younger son as heir to the throne. This rule will apply to any children in the line of succession born after October 28, 2011.
• A person married to a Roman Catholic will be able to accede to the throne.
• Seeking the Sovereign’s permission to marry, which currently applies to all members of the royal family, will be limited only to the first six in line to the throne.

Commonwealth governments agreed the changes in 2011 and passed legislation in 2013, but delayed implementation until 2015 to ensure international legal synchronisation.

“All Realms, including New Zealand, must have the same succession laws,” Adams said at the time as per the report.

“These changes help improve the rules of succession and reflect modern values such as gender equality, which is positive for New Zealand’s system of government.”