UK legislators hope to revoke 300-year-old law that give male heirs prior claim to throne
UK legislators hope to revoke 300-year-old law that give male heirs prior claim to throne
A 300-year-old law that would discriminate against any daughter born to Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton in the succession to the throne faces a parliamentary challenge Tuesday.
Male heirs have prior claim to the crown over their older sisters under the 1701 Act of Settlement, which also bars the monarch from marrying a Catholic.
MP Keith Vaz, from the Labour Party, will use a special parliamentary procedure to seek backing for legislation to remove the distinction between the sexes in determining the royal succession.
"With the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, we have a once in a generation opportunity to change the law," said Vaz.
"William looks like a very modern prince. If he has a daughter first, it is only right that she become queen of England," he added.
The couple are due to marry in London's Westminster Abbey on April 29. William (28) is second-in-line to the crown held by his grandmother Queen Elizabeth. Vaz needs government backing to have any chance of success in amending the succession law.
The former Labour government had promised to reform the ancient legislation, but had made little progress before it was ousted from power in last May's national election.
The incoming coalition government has shown scant enthusiasm for change, not least because to do so requires the agreement of 15 independent British Commonwealth countries which share Queen Elizabeth as their sovereign.
Last week justice minister Tom McNally had said the government had no plans to amend the Act of Settlement, but said discussions among Commonwealth countries about the issue were continuing under the chairmanship of New Zealand.
Any change must be authorised by every nation where Queen Elizabeth II is head of state. Prime Minister David Cameron's office says reforms would be "complex and difficult."
Waiting in line
The present line of succession to the British throne:
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1. Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales (b. 1948)
2. Prince William of Wales
(b. 1982)
3. Prince Harry of Wales
(b. 1984)
4. Prince Andrew,
The Duke of York (b. 1960)
5. Princess Beatrice (b. 1988)
6. Princess Eugenie (b. 1990)
7. Prince Edward (b. 1964)
8. James, Viscount Severn
(b. 2007)
9. Louise Windsor (b. 2003)
10. Princess Anne, Princess Royal (b. 1950)
The Act of Settlement (1701) lays down that only Protestant heirs of Princess Sophia, granddaughter of James I, may succeed to the British throne. Neither Catholics, nor those who marry a Catholic, nor those born out of
wedlock, may remain in the line of succession
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