MELBOURNE - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government is writing to Commonwealth realms on Tuesday about its backing for former prince Andrew to be axed from the line of royal succession.
Albanese said he had communicated with his British counterpart Keir Starmer about Andrew, who is being investigated for alleged misconduct in public office following revelations about his dealings with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Britain would have to initiate any change to the line of royal succession -- but it would need the agreement of the 14 other Commonwealth realms that have King Charles III as head of state, he said.
"Australia likes being first and we have made sure that everyone knows what our position is and we'll be writing today to the other realm countries as well, informing them of our position," Albanese told public broadcaster ABC.
The prime minister said he had written to the heads of Australia's own states and territories, which would also need to agree to the change to the monarchy.
In a letter to Starmer on Monday, Albanese said his government would agree to any proposal to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession, describing the allegations against him as "grave".
Australians are "disgusted" by revelations about late US sex offender Epstein's relations with public figures and they wanted the government to be clear about its position, Albanese told the ABC.
"King Charles has said that the law must now take its full course. There must be a full, fair and proper investigation. And that needs to occur."
The Prime Minister of New Zealand -- also a Commonwealth realm -- said Tuesday he would back the UK government if it decided to remove Andrew from the line of succession.
"We would definitely support whatever they come to," Christopher Luxon told reporters.
"The bottom line is no one is above the law, and once that investigation is closed, should the UK government decide to remove him from the line of succession, that is something we would support."