NZ Signals Support for UK Move on Andrew’s Succession

New Zealand has indicated it would stand behind the United Kingdom if it decides to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed.
In a statement released on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Luxon said New Zealand’s position was clear: if the UK Government moves to formally remove Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, Wellington would support that decision. The statement also noted that British authorities have indicated any such proposal would follow the conclusion of an ongoing police investigation.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Luxon said officials from New Zealand’s Cabinet Office had been in contact with their counterparts in London over the past week. While emphasising that the matter ultimately rests with the British Government, he made it clear that New Zealand would align itself with any decision to strip Mountbatten-Windsor of his succession rights once the investigative process is complete.
“The bottom line is that no one is above the law,” Luxon said. “When that investigation is concluded, if the UK Government chooses to remove him from the line of succession, that is something we would support.”
Mountbatten-Windsor—previously known as the Duke of York—was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages by King Charles III last year. He has not undertaken official royal duties since 2019, following controversy surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Despite losing his titles and stepping back from public royal life, he has remained eighth in line to the British throne.
According to a UK official, the British Government is considering legislative options that could formally remove him from the order of succession after his recent arrest. Any such change would likely require coordination among Commonwealth realms, including New Zealand and Australia, where the British monarch remains head of state.
Luxon noted that New Zealand’s stance had already been communicated to the UK Government before it became public that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had written to his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, confirming Australia’s support for removal. Luxon said the regular dialogue between Cabinet offices meant Wellington’s position was “well understood.”
“Our Cabinet Office talks to their Cabinet Office regularly—we have conversations all the time,” Luxon said. “Our position is very clear, and I’m stating it clearly again.”
He added that New Zealand’s view mirrors Australia’s, underscoring a shared commitment to the principle that legal accountability applies equally to everyone, regardless of status.
However, not all members of the New Zealand Government have chosen to engage deeply with the issue. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour downplayed its immediate relevance when questioned earlier in the day. Speaking to media, Seymour suggested that domestic challenges were of greater urgency to most New Zealanders.
“I think we’ve got 99 problems most New Zealanders are facing right now,” Seymour said. Noting Mountbatten-Windsor’s position as eighth in line to the throne, he implied that the likelihood of him ascending to the monarchy was remote. “Of all the things we could be worried about right now, that’s probably a wee way down the list.”
When asked about Australia’s proactive stance, Seymour responded light-heartedly, suggesting that Canberra had “obviously solved a few more problems” at home before turning its attention to royal succession matters.
The issue nonetheless carries constitutional significance. As a Commonwealth realm, New Zealand shares the same monarch as the United Kingdom. Any alteration to the rules governing succession typically requires the assent of all realms where the monarch serves as head of state. Luxon’s comments signal that New Zealand would not stand in the way of legislative changes initiated in London.
For now, the matter hinges on the outcome of the police investigation in the United Kingdom. Should British lawmakers decide to proceed with removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession, New Zealand has made clear it is prepared to lend its support.
-TIN Bureau