By Truus Bos, NBC News Producer
LONDON – Prince William and Kate Middleton are still three months from tying the knot, but already British lawmakers are debating the Royal Baby!
More precisely they are debating whether the first royal child, if she is a girl, can succeed her father William on the throne.
Under the 309-year-old law which governs royal succession to this day, if William and Kate become the parents of three girls, and then a boy, the boy would leapfrog over the girls and
become the next in line to the throne.
This afternoon Labour MP Keith Vaz presented the House of Commons with a Ten Minute Rule Bill calling for the “removal of any distinction between the sexes in determining the succession to the throne.”
Even before the bill was introduced, Downing Street warned that changing the antiquated law would be a "difficult and complex matter.”
The reason seems to be that Queen Elizabeth II is still head of state in 15 Commonwealth countries, and the changes would have to be made in all these countries.
The Prime Minister's office said discussions have been taking place in these countries, but it could be a lengthy process for any change to be approved.
"Amending the Act of Succession is a complex and difficult matter that requires careful and thoughtful consideration,” said a spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron who wished to remain anonymous.
“Absolute drivel,” said Lord Jeffrey Archer in a televised discussion on the issue last November.
In 1996 Lord Archer introduced his own bill to make sure that the first-born girls become the monarch. He asked the bill drawing specialists in the Public Bill Office to draft it for him, and "it was a beautiful little bill of one clause! I was allowed to present it to the House. If I was allowed to present it to the House, it must have been all right.”
'My bill is still there to pick up, and you know how long it would take to get through? A couple of hours! Who's gonna vote against it?' What about the Commonwealth countries making difficulties, Archer said a couple of phone calls should take care of them.
In Europe, Spain and Monaco are the only other countries who pass over princesses in favor of princes. Denmark was the last European country to make the change in 2009, when 85 percent of the Danish population voted for a referendum which put princesses on an even footing with princes in the succession rules for the Danish Throne.
Britain has been “ruled” by several strong women – including Queen Elizabeth II since 1953. She is much admired and loved by most of her "subjects,” so it’s doubtful that all but a few curmudgeonly old Lords would still object to allowing a change in the law.
Williams and Kate would no doubt support a change in the law that would bring equality into their future family. They seem a thoroughly modern couple – they've lived together quite openly before the marriage and announced that they won't surround themselves with a host of servants for a while afterwards.
This afternoon in the House of Commons the draft bill passed to a second reading by what's called a "voice vote,” which was unanimous, but the House was not full. It will now be debated on May 13, two weeks after the royal wedding.
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