Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Dominic Grieve (Conservative). It was answered on Thursday, 8 May 2008 on behalf of the Solicitor General.

Monarchy (Male Primogeniture)

Question: I suspect that there are universal views across the House that male primogeniture is an aspect of the royal succession that could be sensibly changed. Could the Solicitor-General confirm that the major issue is that the Act of Settlement applies not only to this country but to all other Commonwealth countries that have the Queen as Head of State and that, in the circumstances, for us to move without moving at the same pace and in the same fashion as those countries would cause problems that are probably best avoided?

Answer: I was grateful for the hon. and learned Gentleman's support, but then he backslid a little bit in the last sentence. However, he pinpoints the problem, which is about the Commonwealth countries.

Secondary information