A former Conservative MP has suggested that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should be exiled from Britain following reports of his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The comments have intensified debate about the Duke of York’s future role and status, highlighting the ongoing relevance of royal decisions for the public and the monarchy’s stability.
Downing Street has not confirmed any legislative plans, but senior figures are understood to have examined whether Parliament could be used to alter Andrew’s constitutional standing.
Speaking on GB News, former Cities of London and Westminster MP Mark Field argued that it would be untenable for the Duke to continue residing at royal estates.
“I think the practicality of the idea that he can stay living in Sandringham, I think that’s a non-starter,” Field said.
“Listen, I’m being serious, but exiled to one of the Ascension Islands… St Helena or something like which are really out of sight and out of mind.”
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Sandringham House in Norfolk is one of the Royal Family’s privately owned estates and has traditionally been used as a winter residence.
Field’s remarks, though framed as bluntly pragmatic, have reignited discussion about how the monarchy and Government should handle controversies involving senior royals.
Any formal removal from the line of succession would require legislation passed by Parliament, underscoring the serious constitutional implications involved.
Altering the line of succession would also require consultation with other Commonwealth realms in which the British monarch serves as head of state, given their shared constitutional arrangements.
There is currently no public indication that legislation is imminent, but constitutional scholars note that Parliament is sovereign and could, in theory, amend succession law, which might have significant constitutional and political implications.
Field referenced Saint Helena, the remote South Atlantic island historically associated with political exile.
Saint Helena is most famously linked to Napoleon Bonaparte, who was sent there following his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He remained on the island until he died in 1821.
While Field’s suggestion was not framed as a formal proposal, the comparison underlined the extent of frustration among some political figures regarding the Duke’s position.
The situation places pressure on both the Royal Household and the Government.
For the monarchy, the issue touches on public trust and reputational risk. Prince Andrew stepped back from public duties in 2019 following controversy over his associations and has since held no official working royal role, raising questions about his future status.
For ministers, the matter raises delicate constitutional boundaries between Government and Crown. Traditionally, internal royal family matters are handled by the Palace rather than by direct political intervention.
Any perceived attempt by ministers to intervene in succession arrangements could raise questions about constitutional convention and the separation of powers between the Crown and Parliament.
Public opinion on the Duke of York remains divided, reflecting ongoing societal debates about the monarchy’s future and the importance of accountability.
The suggestion of exile — even rhetorical — reflects the intensity of feeling among certain political commentators.
Buckingham Palace has not commented on the former MP’s remarks, and no official statement has been issued regarding the reported arrest.
