British Royal succession rules overturned
- 13 years ago
Royal weddings bring a touch of fairy tale.
But for centuries royal daughters have faced discrimination.
Britain has now dropped rules favouring sons as heirs to the throne and barring anyone in line for the crown from marrying a Roman Catholic.
British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the changes at a Commonwealth summit headed by the Queen in Perth.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON SAYING:
"First, we will end the male primogenital rule, so that in future the order of succession should be determined simply by the order of birth. And, we have agreed to introduce this for all descendants from the Prince of Wales. Put simply, if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were to have a little girl, that girl would one day be our queen."
The rules date back to Henry VIII's break with Rome in the 16th century when Catholics were seen as a threat to the state.
Lily Grimes, Reuters
But for centuries royal daughters have faced discrimination.
Britain has now dropped rules favouring sons as heirs to the throne and barring anyone in line for the crown from marrying a Roman Catholic.
British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the changes at a Commonwealth summit headed by the Queen in Perth.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON SAYING:
"First, we will end the male primogenital rule, so that in future the order of succession should be determined simply by the order of birth. And, we have agreed to introduce this for all descendants from the Prince of Wales. Put simply, if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were to have a little girl, that girl would one day be our queen."
The rules date back to Henry VIII's break with Rome in the 16th century when Catholics were seen as a threat to the state.
Lily Grimes, Reuters