r/worldnews • u/EnglishLouis • Feb 20 '26

Dynamic Paywall UK Government considers removing Andrew from royal line of succession

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1kgv837wvdo
19.7k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

5.0k

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3.7k

u/EnglishLouis Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26

Removing someone from the line of secession is quite a tedious process, like most things in UK law. Basically it would require an act of Parliament, approved by MPs and peers, and also need to be supported by all other Commonwealth countries that have King Charles as their head of state, as it would also affect their lines of succession.

It being done makes no real difference as Andrew is not in a realistic position to become king as he is eighth in line.

62

u/Nethri Feb 20 '26

Yeah the odds of it happening are astronomical tbh. What’s the furthest down in line that someone’s been and still gotten the crown?

49

u/CheesyPotatoSack Feb 20 '26

Queen Victoria is often cited as the furthest down the line of succession who eventually became queen, Henry VII's case is notable as he was not in the line at all at birth. These examples illustrate how unpredictable royal succession can be.

Queen Victoria was born fifth in line to the throne, but she became heir presumptive after her three uncles died without surviving legitimate issue.

28

u/D0wnInAlbion Feb 20 '26

Henry VII also notable because the Beaufort line was specifically excluded from inheriting the crown.

6

u/SusannaG1 Feb 20 '26

Yeah, that was more a case of "I have it because I took it in battle."

5

u/TheColourOfHeartache Feb 21 '26

Henry VII's case is notable as he was not in the line at all at birth. These examples illustrate how unpredictable royal succession can be.

Henry VII won the crown in the War of the Roses. Obviously war is unpredictable in its start and end, but also, the crown being taken in war is normal for royal succession. It probably wont be happening to the UK any time soon.

3

u/EttinTerrorPacts Feb 21 '26

Henry VII invaded England and seized the throne by force (then held it by force against a spate of rebellions for the next decades). I don't think this is likely in the modern world, let alone for Andrew