The British government considers removing former Prince Andrew from the line of succession to the crown after his arrest

The British government is considering formally removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession to the crown following his detention about revelations in the documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.

It would be a bold move that could preserve the dignity of the British royal family as it faces its worst crisis in generations. It would be a hard blow for the former prince, who remains eighth in line to the throne despite losing his status and his honors last year.

“If they would just stop treating it with kid gloves and treat it as an institution that is useful, does a good job and isn’t overly expensive and all that, then I think the monarchy will survive and should survive,” said David Dimbleby, author of “What’s the Use of a Monarch?”

In addition to a legislative act of Parliament, removing Andrew from the line of succession would require the agreement of 14 Commonwealth countries.

• Here’s what’s in Epstein’s files on former Prince Andrew

Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, held for 11 hours and then released under investigation, meaning he was neither charged nor exonerated.

He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct while holding public office, not for any crimes related to his numerous documented encounters with young women linked to Epstein. Among the trove of documents released by the US government are emails indicating that the royal may have shared confidential UK government information with Epstein about his trips to Southeast Asia and potential investment opportunities in Afghanistan in 2010-2011.

Andrew was an official trade representative for the British government at the time.

british police Continue searching Andrew’s house. as part of the investigation and have begun interrogating his former bodyguards to obtain information relevant to their investigations.

After pledging to support the police investigation into his brother’s relationship with the late convicted sex offender Epstein, King Charles reiterated his intentions to the British public.

“My family and I will continue to do our duty and service to all of you,” he said in a statement signed “Charles R.,” using the abbreviation for Rex, the Latin word for king.

The mere fact that Charles made that statement demonstrated the magnitude of the problem. Andrew is the first senior member of the royal family to be arrested in some 400 years, when King Charles I was arrested and executed during the English Civil War.

Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing related to her long friendship with Epstein. If convicted of misconduct while holding public office, he could face life in prison.