Ex-Prince Andrew Still Being in the Line of Succession Is ‘Embarrassing at Best,’ Says Royal Expert

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor — formerly known as Prince Andrew — may have had his royal titles and privileges revoked, but he still has a chance at taking the crown.

“Given Andrew’s ghastly behavior, his still being in the line of succession is … embarrassing at best,” royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital for an article published Wednesday, December 10.

“But in reality, he’s so far down the line — behind the Sussex children — there’s little risk of him ever becoming king,” she added. “Nevertheless, there is concern that any ad hoc removal of unpopular royals could make the institution look more like a political machine than a stable hereditary monarchy.”

Though King Charles III made the shocking decision to banish his brother, 65, from Royal Lodge and strip him of his royal honors, Andrew is still eighth in line to the throne following Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

According to Fordwich, the former Duke of York’s removal from the line would require “negotiations with the Commonwealth realms.”

“Much to the chagrin of Prince William, heir to the throne, as well as other senior royals and the public at large, Parliament has already signaled that it has no plans to legislate Andrew out of the succession,” she noted.

British broadcaster and royal expert Helena Chard pointed out to the outlet that it is “unlikely” Andrew will “impact the line of succession,” adding: “There would have to be something monumentally terrible to occur — a black swan event — for the crown to pass to Andrew.”

Though the father of two gave up his royal titles on October 17 and could “voluntarily abdicate his claim” to the throne, according to Fordwich, the royal expert feels “that’s highly unlikely.”

Andrew has come under fire in recent months due to his longtime connection to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Though he’s been at the center of allegations for many years, things took a sharp turn following the release of Virginia Giuffre’s Nobody’s Girl, the explosive new memoir by his accuser who died by suicide at 41 earlier this year.

While Andrew has consistently maintained his innocence and denied any wrongdoing, he must vacate Royal Lodge — where he has lived practically rent-free with ex-wife Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson — by January 31, according to People.