Is this the end of the Royal Family as we know it?

What’s the story?

Aussie’s aren’t known for mincing their words, and that’s certainly true when it comes to Australian PM, Anthony Albanese, and his message to the UK government on Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

Albanese has told Keir Starmer to kick him out of the line of succession, the first of the 14 commonwealth countries to do so. Getting approval from these territories to remove Andrew has been considered one of the reasons the UK government has been so slow in acting on the former prince.

"It leapfrogs any decision or clarity our government has here," says Emily Maitlis.

She says there is no chance any Commonwealth Country will swing the other way and support Andrew remaining eighth in line to the throne.

Already Australia has made moves to step away from its commonwealth loyalties, choosing not to put King Charles on its $5 notes after the death of the queen in 2022.

"There are huge numbers of people in Australia who have come from Britain, but huge numbers have come from Asia, people from Italy, and Greece, who know nothing about our Royal Family," says Jon Sopel.

"There's an older generation of white Australians who are very much royalists still, but among a younger generation, I think that is changing profoundly."

But this isn't just about Andrew's unlikely chances of becoming King – Australia's determined stance on the matter suggests a fundamental change in the British Royal Family could be on the horizon.

Transparency and accountability

Considering the role of the Royal Family in providing stability, continuity and national unity, The News Agents say there is almost no transparency in its finances or its functions.

Following the recent release of new documents from the Epstein Files, there has been renewed scrutiny on a payment made by Queen Elizabeth II to Virginia Giuffre in a civic court, believed to have been to the sum of £12 million – but no one knows for sure.

It has always been stated that the Giuffre payout was not made with public money, but no one knows the truth.

"It is extraordinary that journalists have been in this position of not ever really getting facts confirmed," says Emily.

"We were never really allowed to ask the questions."

New claims about Andrew suggest he used taxpayers money for massages while travelling the world as the UK's trade envoy.

"The idea was to preserve the mystique of the Royal Family – but what mystique is there to preserve right now?" Jon asks.

"We've seen that photo of Andrew in the back of the car, and all the other photos that have come out from the Epstein Files.

"There's the idea that policemen were acting as bodyguards for Andrew at Epstein dinner parties – there are things that are just so egregious and so much on the wrong side of the line that understandably, and rightly, we are asking for accountability and transparency."

That, Jon adds, changes the entire institution.

"As soon as you do that, you are ceasing the Royal Family as it is today," he says.

"The Royal Family has to change as a result of this, and change fundamentally."

The end of the Royal Family as we know it?

The 2023 coronation of King Charles cost the UK taxpayer £72 million. This, Emily says, will never happen again.

"I think it's going to change so profoundly," says Jon.

"We have been used to watching incremental change in the way the Royal Family adapts to the changing social norms.

"I think we're going to see something quite profound now when Charles ceases to be on the throne and William takes it."

This is, of course, all due to Andrew's behaviour – and the complicity of the Palace.

"This is very possible as a result of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and the shame that he's brought on this Royal Family," says Jon.

"The questions that are now being asked suddenly seem so legitimate.

"Why weren't we asking these questions before? Well, we were asking those questions – but we were shut down."

Listen to the latest episode of The News Agents.