Case Explained: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor latest: Starmer considering law to remove former prince from line of succession – Legal Perspective

Emily Maitlis, who interviewed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in his disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019, said the King had paved the way for the law to take its course.

Speaking to journalist Christiane Amanpour, she said she was “absolutely stunned” by his arrest.

“This is not something we see in this country, this is not something we’re used to seeing,” she said.

“There is no question in my mind that when King Charles removed that title from Andrew six months ago, when he asked him to leave Royal Lodge, the King was essentially paving the way for the law to take its course.

“He was essentially saying to the forces of justice in this country ‘I don’t want to tie your hands, he is my brother, but he is no longer untouchable’.”

The Met Police has urged Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former bodyguards to “consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard” may be relevant to the Metropolitan Police’s review of the Epstein files.

On Friday, the force said they were identifying and contacting former close protection officers of the former prince to ask for any information that could assist with their inquiries.

A former Met Police deputy assistant commissioner said his bodyguards “may not even know that they hold important information”.

Stephen Roberts told Sky News: “It’s quite possible that they can contribute some sort of evidence, either in favour of a prosecution or indeed anything that might exonerate the suspect.”

Kemi Badenoch has praised the King over his handling of Andrew’s arrest, saying he has set an “exemplary example”, as she takes a swipe at Keir Starmer.

The Tory leader told Sky News: “I think the King is absolutely right to have said what he said. The law must run its course.

“No one is above the law, not even members of the Royal Family.

“What I think is really interesting is the contrast between how His Majesty has handled this situation, versus how the prime minister handled a situation with Peter Mandelson, also embroiled in this Jeffrey Epstein scandal.”

A former Met Police deputy assistant commissioner has said Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s bodyguards “may not even know that they hold important information”.

It follows news on Friday night that the force is asking former close protection officers to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to “consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard” may be relevant to the Met Police’s review of the Epstein files.

Stephen Roberts told Sky News: “It’s quite possible that they can contribute some sort of evidence, either in favour of a prosecution or indeed anything that might exonerate the suspect.

“The protection officers may not even know that they hold important information, so it’s really a process of sifting all potential sources of information and evidence.”

He said that further investigation into Andrew is likely to take “months and years, rather than the days and weeks that people might wish”.

The chief secretary to the treasury has confirmed the government is “not ruling anything out” when it comes to the prospect of legally removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession.

James Murray told Sky News: “The government is considering any further steps that might be required, and we’re not ruling anything out.

“But at this stage, would be inappropriate for us to go any further because there is a live police investigation under way.”

A women’s rights lawyer who represents Epstein victims has said she does believe there will be any “any real justice”, despite Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on Thursday.

Gloria Allred told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The state has acted quickly to make this arrest but there still has not been any action on the part of the police on allegations that Andrew has committed crimes against women.

“Apparently allegations concerning the state trade secrets and/or allegations of financial crimes are given priority and quick action while allegations of rape and child sexual abuse and sex trafficking take many years to investigate and do not result in arrests and accountability for victims who are women and girls.”

Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to his connections to Epstein.

Police probing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have urged his former bodyguards to “consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard” is relevant to their investigation.

The Metropolitan force said they were identifying and contacting former and serving close protection officers of the former Duke of York, urging them to share any information that could assist with their inquiries.

Detectives are also working with authorities in the US to establish whether London airports had been used to “facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation”, after former prime minister Gordon Brown called for police to “urgently” re-examine claims that women or girls were trafficked to the UK aboard flights to Stansted.

Calls are growing for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from the line of succession.

The disgraced former prince, who was stripped of his royal titles last year, still sits at eighth in line for the throne.

Who is in line for the British throne?

1. William, Prince of Wales

2. Prince George of Wales (son of William)

3. Princess Charlotte of Wales (daughter of William)

4. Prince Louis of Wales (son of William)

6. Prince Archie of Sussex (son of Harry)

7. Princess Lilibet of Sussex (daughter of Harry)

8. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

9. Princess Beatrice (daughter of Mountbatten-Windsor)

10. Sienna Mapelli Mozzi (daughter of Princess Beatrice)

11. Athena Mapelli Mozzi (daughter of Princess Beatrice)

12. Princess Eugenie (daughter of Mountbatten-Windsor)

13. August Brooksbank (son of Princess Eugenie)

14. Ernest Brooksbank (son of Princess Eugenie)

15. Edward, Duke of Edinburgh

16. James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex (son of Edward)

17. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor (daughter of Edward)

19. Peter Phillips (son of Anne)

20. Savannah Phillips (daughter of Peter Phillips)

21. Isla Phillips (daughter of Peter Phillips)

22. Zara Tindall (daughter of Anne)

23. Mia Tindall (daughter of Zara Tindall)

24. Lena Tindall (daughter of Zara Tindall)

25. Lucas Tindall (son of Zara Tindall)