The announcement by the UK Prime Minister David Cameron (28 October 2011) of changes to the rules governing the order of succession for the British monarchy marks an end to centuries of male primogeniture (i.e. the succession of the eldest male child regardless of any older sisters). The announcement also includes an end to the anomalous situation in which anyone in line of succession must give up their right to the throne should they marry a Catholic.
Male Primogeniture in the British Royal Family
The tradition of male primogeniture is one of common law rather than of any written legislation (House of Commons) although the requirement for a monarch to be of the Anglican faith is written into the Act of Settlement, which specifically refers to Queen Anne and the ‘heirs of her body, being Protestant’. The monarch will, however, have to remain a member of the Anglican faith as he or she will be the head of that church.
Speaking during a visit to Australia, in the course of which changes to the law were unanimously approved by the Commonwealth Heads of Government, the Prime Minister told the media that “the idea that a younger son should become monarch instead of an elder daughter simply because he is a man…is at odds with the modern countries that we have become” (BBC News “UK royal succession change agreed”)
The change will also remove the requirement that any member of the royal family marrying a Catholic must give up their right to the throne – a feature which dates back to the Act of Settlement of 1701 and which applies to no other faith. As recently as 2008, the Catholic Autumn Kelly converted to Anglicanism rather than see her husband, Peter Phillips, renounce his right to the throne (he is currently 11th in the line of succession).
The Current and Future Succession
At present, the line of succession passes through the Prince of Wales and his heirs to Prince Andrew and his children and Prince Edward and his. The Princess Royal, though the Queen’s second child, is only tenth in line to the throne. Were the changes to apply to the current succession, she would be fourth, after Prince Charles and Princes William and Harry.
In fact the present line of succession will not change as the new law will not apply retrospectively but will begin with the generation descended from the Prince of Wales. Thus, should the first child born to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge be a daughter, she would take precedence over any brothers who may be born after her.
Sources:
BBC News “UK royal succession change agreed” 28 October 2011
The Royal Family website “Succession”
UK Government website “Attempts to Amend Crown Succession Since 1979”
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