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Wanted - Female Monarchs Now Welcome To Throne

Wanted - Female Monarchs Now Welcome To Throne

The compulsory 'male succession' law in the UK is being abolished under new equality legislation, steered by Vera Baird, the UK Solicitor General.

The law that forces the daughter of a monarch to make way for her younger brother in the succession could be abolished under new equality legislation.

Ministers want to give women equal rights to succeed the throne, ending the rule of primogeniture set down under the provisions of the 1701 Act of Settlement.

The change would not affect the current line of succession, but would mean that if Prince William had a daughter and then a son, his daughter would become Queen.

Vera Baird, the Solicitor General, who is steering the new equality bill through the Commons, said the right of males to succeed ahead of their older sisters was "unfair" and "a load of rubbish".

She added: "I have always thought that what we have to do with the Royal Family is integrate them as far as possible into the human race."

The Single Equality Bill will be drafted later this year to bring together existing laws on discrimination by sex, race, age, sexual orientation, disability or religion. Mrs Baird also wants to repeal the law that bans the heir to the throne from marrying a Catholic.

It is understood that Queen Elizabeth supports the law change

ENDS

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