Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Dubs (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 11 January 2006.

Royal Succession: Primogeniture

Question: My Lords, I detect a slight hint in my noble and learned friend’s Answer that, if there were marches down Whitehall saying ““end gender discrimination”” as regards the monarchy, the Government might be persuaded to change their mind. I put a serious point to him: he has said that the heir to the throne is male and that his son is male; yes, but it would be invidious to consider legislation when Prince William is married and has children. Doing so then would be too late.

Answer: My Lords, as I say, there is no groundswell for change at the moment. We abhor gender discrimination. Let us not hypothesise about what may happen in the future.

Secondary information