UK to bend royal rule of succession to end old sexual discrimination
14 Dec 2012 2:03 AM GMT
Britain on Thursday said it will quickly enact a historic legislation into law to end ‘centuries of discrimination’ against women in the line of succession to the throne.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the legislation, Succession to the Crown Bill, ‘will bring to an end centuries of discrimination against women’.
‘I'm delighted that all of the Queen's realms have agreed to this historic piece of legislation, that will enact in law what we agreed back in 2011 - that if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have a baby girl, she can one day be our Queen even if she has younger brothers.
‘We're pressing ahead with this as quickly as we can - it's clearly something the entire country can get behind towards the close of this momentous Jubilee year,’ the BBC quoted Clegg as saying.
The Succession to the Crown Bill means the first child of William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will become monarch, whether they are a boy or girl.
On 4 December, consent was given by all 15 Commonwealth realms to press ahead with the legislation. The law will be voted on in the Commons as soon as parliamentary time allows. The new legislation will end the system of male primogeniture, meaning male heirs will no longer take precedence over women in line to the throne.
The bill will also end the ban on anyone in the line of succession marrying a Roman Catholic, the
report said.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the legislation, Succession to the Crown Bill, ‘will bring to an end centuries of discrimination against women’.
‘I'm delighted that all of the Queen's realms have agreed to this historic piece of legislation, that will enact in law what we agreed back in 2011 - that if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have a baby girl, she can one day be our Queen even if she has younger brothers.
‘We're pressing ahead with this as quickly as we can - it's clearly something the entire country can get behind towards the close of this momentous Jubilee year,’ the BBC quoted Clegg as saying.
The Succession to the Crown Bill means the first child of William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will become monarch, whether they are a boy or girl.
On 4 December, consent was given by all 15 Commonwealth realms to press ahead with the legislation. The law will be voted on in the Commons as soon as parliamentary time allows. The new legislation will end the system of male primogeniture, meaning male heirs will no longer take precedence over women in line to the throne.
The bill will also end the ban on anyone in the line of succession marrying a Roman Catholic, the
report said.
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