Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in February  after being accused of sharing confidential material with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. He has not responded to the BBC's requests for comment on the specific allegations relating to the release of millions of Epstein files in January.

Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Carney said he believed the former Duke of York's "deplorable" actions should result in his removal from the line of succession. The former prince remains eighth in line to the throne despite being stripped of his titles in October amid pressure over his ties to Epstein.

Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England, added: "Even though he is well down the line, the point of principle stands."

Last month, Australia's prime minister told the UK's Sir Keir Starmer that his government would back plans to remove Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession. Anthony Albanese told Sir Keir: "I am writing to confirm that my government would agree to any proposal to remove him from the line of royal succession. These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously."

New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, echoed Albanese's call, telling reporters last month: "The bottom line is that no one is above the law and, once that investigation is closed, should the UK government decide to remove him from the line of succession, that is something we would support."

The UK government said it was considering introducing legislation to remove the former prince from the line of succession. Defence Minister Luke Pollard told the BBC the move — which would prevent Mountbatten-Windsor from ever becoming king — was the "right thing to do", regardless of the outcome of the police investigation.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions? programme, Pollard confirmed the government had "absolutely" been working with Buckingham Palace on plans to stop the former prince from "potentially being a heartbeat away from the throne".

Any plan to remove him from the line of succession would require an Act of Parliament, which would have to be approved by MPs and peers and would come into effect once given royal assent by his brother, King Charles III.

It would also need to be supported by the 14 Commonwealth countries where the King is head of state. The last time someone was removed from the line of succession by an Act of Parliament was in 1936, when Edward VIII and his descendants were removed following his abdication.

Buckingham Palace has not publicly commented on the government's consideration of legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession. (BBC)