Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor does not carry out official royal engagements, but his constitutional position as a Counsellor of State, and his status as eighth in line to the throne, have not been formally altered.
As eighth in line, it is highly unlikely Andrew would ever be in a position to be named King, however the existence of a pathway is problematic to the current UK Government and the Royal Family.
A change to the line of succession or to the status of a Counsellor of State requires legislation passed by Parliament, which has not yet been acted upon by the current Labour Party. Until that happens, Andrew remains in the line of succession and legally eligible to act as a Counsellor of State.
Under the Regency Acts (1937), the monarch’s spouse and the next four adults in the line of succession can be called upon to perform certain official duties if the Sovereign is abroad or temporarily unable to act. These can include attending Privy Council meetings, approving routine documents and receiving ambassadors.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is also still listed on the official Palace website, albeit under his former title, as a Counsellor of State who could act if senior members of the Royal Family were unable to perform their duties.
In 2022, Parliament expanded the pool of available Counsellors of State by adding the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh. However, Andrew was not formally removed from eligibility.
The website does state that Buckingham Palace has indicated that only working members of the Royal Family would be asked to undertake such duties; however, as things stand, Andrew’s status has not been changed.
The relationship between the Monarchy and Parliament is a complicated one, which the current situation with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor only serves to highlight, piling pressure on Sir Keir Starmer’s government to act and further damaging the reputation of the Royal Family at a time when privilege and inherited wealth are being forensically scrutinised.
