In an interesting take on the concept of “equality,” British feminists have joined forces with women of rank in demanding an end to the rule that inheritance of title goes to a male heir.
The proposed law changes to ensure that a daughter born to Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge can succeed to the throne, should apply to titles as well, daughters of the aristocracy have said.
The current tradition follows the previous royal succession law which sees a male heir inherit over a female.
Now daughters of the gentry are calling for a equal rights to inherit titles as the new law would leave the aristocracy ‘two steps behind’ the royal family.
The aristocracy’s current rules are even harsher than those of the crown, as a title will die out rather than be passed onto a female heir.
Lady Clare Kerr whose father is Tory politician Michael Ancram, is the 13th Marquess of Lothian, will miss out on inheriting her father’s title due to the aristocracy’s rules.
Yeah, I guess it’s unfair that girls don’t inherit titles like boys do, but isn’t the entire concept of aristocracy unfair? If equality is the goal, why not eliminate the aristocracy altogether?
In the meanwhile, the rules for royal succession are being changed to give girls and boys an equal shot at becoming the titular head of great Britain:
MPs will meet today to start rewriting 660-year-old laws to ensure that if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s have a girl she will become Queen, even if she has a young brother.
Ministers are to prioritise the law change with the urgency usually reserved for anti-terror laws.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: ‘This Bill will bring to an end centuries of discrimination against women so that the first born is next in line to the throne, regardless of whether they’re a boy or a girl.’
The Liberal Democrat leader added: ‘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 four-page Bill states that in future ‘succession to the Crown not to depend on gender’ and rewrites the Treason Act 1351 to replace ‘first son and heir’ to mean ‘eldest child and heir’.Other laws affected include the Bill of Rights, Act of Settlement and the Regency Act 1937.
Feminism: it’s about making the most of one’s birthright.
