This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20600543
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Consent given for change to royal succession rules | Consent given for change to royal succession rules |
(32 minutes later) | |
All Commonwealth realms have agreed to press ahead with a bill ending discrimination against women in the succession to the British throne. | |
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the government would now introduce the Succession to the Crown Bill in the House of Commons as soon as possible. | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the government would now introduce the Succession to the Crown Bill in the House of Commons as soon as possible. |
It means the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will become monarch, whether a boy or a girl. | |
The duchess, whose pregnancy was announced on Monday, is in hospital. | The duchess, whose pregnancy was announced on Monday, is in hospital. |
She is spending her second day being treated for acute morning sickness in the private King Edward VII Hospital in central London. | |
The new legislation will end the principle of male primogeniture, meaning male heirs will no longer take precedence over women in line to the throne. | The new legislation will end the principle of male primogeniture, meaning male heirs will no longer take precedence over women in line to the throne. |
It will also end the ban on anyone in the line of succession marrying a Roman Catholic. | It will also end the ban on anyone in the line of succession marrying a Roman Catholic. |
'Old-fashioned rules' | |
The legislation was agreed in principle at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Perth, Australia in October 2011. | |
Since then, the government of New Zealand has been gathering formal letters of consent from the 15 realms of the Commonwealth. | |
They have confirmed they will be able to take the necessary measures in their own countries before the UK legislation comes into effect. | |
In a statement, Mr Clegg described the agreement as an "historic moment for our country and our monarchy". | |
He added: "People across the realms of the Commonwealth will be celebrating the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their first child. | |
"We can also all celebrate that whether the baby is a boy or a girl, they will have an equal claim to the throne. | |
"The government will soon introduce the Succession to the Crown Bill which will make our old-fashioned rules fit for the 21st Century. | |
"It will write down in law what we agreed back in 2011 - that if the Duke and Duchess Cambridge have a baby girl, she can one day be our Queen even if she later has younger brothers." |