Think Of It As British Equal Rights Throne Will Go To First-Born - Male Or Female

The girl who would be queen may now have as good a chance as the boy who would be king.

With the approval of Queen Elizabeth II, the House of Lords agreed Friday it was time to bring equal rights to the British monarchy and end 1,000 years of male preference by giving a monarch’s first-born daughter the same claim to the throne as any first-born son.

The proposed change would likely have no impact on the succession for generations: The queen’s heir, Prince Charles, has no elder sister and his heir, Prince William, has no sisters.

But if William’s first child is a girl, she would be heir, even if William had a son later. By tradition, a son has first rights even if he is preceded by a daughter.

The 40 unelected lords, not usually the vanguard of change, greeted news of the modernization plan with approval and praise for women.

“Our rule is particularly derogatory to women as well as being quite out of date,” said Lord Simon.

Elizabeth succeeded her father to the throne because she had no brothers and was the elder of two girls.

Although the effects of the change might not be felt for many years, the decision to alter the succession is a major symbol of the government’s and the queen’s determination to update the monarchy.

“Her Majesty had no objection to the government’s view that, in determining the line of succession of the throne, daughters and sons should be treated in the same way,” Lord Williams of Mostyn, a junior minister in the Home Office, told the lords.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WOMEN RULE The half-dozen women who have sat on the British throne include two of history’s most remarkable sovereigns. Elizabeth I took her turn at the throne in 1558 after her brother and elder sister died. Queen Victoria, who was an only child, succeeded in 1837 when her uncle died without surviving legitimate children.