Royal Watch News

Prince William and Catherine's first-born child will rule

May 11, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Prince William and Duchess Catherine

The first-born child of Prince William and Duchess Catherine will ascend the throne, regardless of gender.

Currently a male will always supersede a first-born female under all circumstances, meaning if William and Catherine were to have a girl followed by a boy, the son would become king but Queen Elizabeth has confirmed a new bill will be introduced to scrap this rule.

The monarch made the historic announcement as she gave a speech at the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday (09.05.12).

She said: 'My government will continue to work with the 15 other Commonwealth Realms to take forward reform of the rules governing succession to the crown.'

The overhaul will also abolish a long-standing ban on royal heirs marrying Roman Catholics, as well as a law requiring descendents of King George II to seek the monarch's consent before they can get married.

Last year Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron urged the15 Commonwealth nations who have Queen Elizabeth as their head of state to consider changing the Act of Settlement to allow for a female monarch.

He said: 'We espouse gender equality in all other aspects of life and it is an anomaly that in the rules relating to the highest public office we continue to enshrine male superiority.'

He also proposed lifting the ban on monarch's marrying a Roman Catholic.