Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appeared to back a committee inquiry by MPs, with the power to summon Prince Andrew to parliament for questioning.
Starmer was asked by Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey during PMQs if he would support such a move in relation to the revelations earlier this week that the prince had not been paying rent to live at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
Davey stressed this would mean "all those involved can be called for evidence, including the current occupant [Prince Andrew]."
Responding, Starmer said: "It’s important in relation to all crown properties that there is proper scrutiny and I certainly support that."
Following the PM’s response, Davey wrote a letter to Public Accounts Committee chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, asking him to launch an inquiry and summon Prince Andrew to give evidence.
"Proper transparency is urgently needed, and Parliament has an important role to play in scrutinising the Crown Estate and ensuring that taxpayers’ interests are upheld," Davey said.
Davey’s question comes as the Prince faces renewed pressure over his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Andrew said earlier this month he would stop using his titles, and on Wednesday, York Central MP Rachel Maskell introduced a law to parliament that, if passed, could officially remove them.
Maskell’s draft legislation would grant the King the power to remove the titles conferred on his brother and others, something he currently lacks the legal power to do.
The prince announced last week he would stop using his Duke of York title to avoid distracting from the work of the royal family, but an Act of Parliament would be required to formally remove the dukedom.
The proposed new law would give the monarch the power to remove titles on his own initiative, following a recommendation of a joint committee of parliament, or at the request of the person who holds the title.
Maskell said: “It is time for parliament to act so that it can, or the monarch can, remove titles.
“The Duke of York title may no longer be being used by its holder, but it has not been removed.
“My short Bill, The Removal of Titles Bill, will fix this; I hope it can now be supported by parliament.”
