Huffington Post UK Dina Rickman First Posted: 7/12/11 10:01 GMT Updated: 7/12/11 10:01 GMT
Now Prince William and Kate Middleton's first-born child can take the throne regardless of gender it's time to change the rules in the House of Lords, MPs have said.
A report by the Political and Constitutional Reform committee has encouraged a "modest" rule change which would allow women to take up hereditary titles.
The move would mean women, like fictional character Lady Mary in ITV's Downton Abbey, could take up their father's titles.
Some 92 seats in the House of Lords are reserved to holders of hereditary aristocratic titles, MPs say in the report.
"Only two of these 92 seats are currently occupied by women. While the holders of hereditary peerages continue to be eligible for membership of the House of Lords, the way in which their titles are inherited, and its effect on the gender balance in parliament, remain matters of public interest."
The report also raises questions about the Queen's role as the head of the Church of England, if royal succession rules are changed to permit marrying Catholics.
MPs said there would be an “obvious difficulty” if a future head of state is raised Catholic and becomes head of the Church of England.
