New Zealand Moves to Remove Andrew’s Honours
New Zealand officials discussed how to remove honours linked to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, with newly released emails showing Prime Minister Christopher Luxon approved steps to cancel one of the duke’s New Zealand awards and to quietly update official records.
Stuff reported that Luxon personally signed off a plan for the Cabinet Office to write to Buckingham Palace seeking cancellation of Andrew’s New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, after officials confirmed he still held New Zealand-linked honours despite public uncertainty.
The emails, released under the Official Information Act, show officials identifying the commemoration medal and noting that a geographic feature in Antarctica had been named Prince Andrew Plateau, with agencies considering a name change. Cabinet Secretary Ms Rachel Hayward proposed that officials write to the Palace indicating they understood Andrew intended to relinquish honours, and Luxon responded directing her to proceed.
King Charles approved the request and the honour was cancelled, with Andrew subsequently removed from the Medal Register, according to the report. The issue was revisited in February after Andrew’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and Luxon said New Zealand would support any UK decision on the duke’s future status and succession.
The New Zealand developments come amid wider international debate about Andrew’s place in royal public life, including calls reported elsewhere that he should be removed from the line of succession.
The emails indicate New Zealand’s approach focused on formal processes and record changes rather than public announcements, with officials seeking clarity on how UK decisions about titles and honours would apply to New Zealand-linked awards.
