Queen Elizabeth II had no enthusiasm for making a change to a Royal Family rule that would allow princesses to take the throne, a new book claims.
In 2013, the law was changed to ensure the firstborn child of a monarch would be next in line to the throne regardless of their gender.
Previously, the firstborn son of a monarch would jump ahead of any elder sisters they may have in the Royal Family’s line of succession.
David Cameron, who was Prime Minister at the time, pushed for the law to be changed in time for the birth of Prince William and Kate’s first child, according to Power and the Palace, by Valentine Low.
Buckingham Palace had no intention of standing in the way of changes to the law.
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Lord Cameron is said to have discussed it with the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard during a Commonwealth summit in Perth in October 2011.
Mr Low writes: “According to a government source, he said to Gillard: ‘William and Kate are getting married, there’s going to be kids, shall we sort this out?’
“Crucially, the palace was not against it. But they said that the government had to ensure the backing of the other 15 realms.”
The source added: “I always thought that the signals from Buckingham Palace were that if it was the wish of the duly elected prime minister of the day, and the realms can be sorted out, we will not stand in its way.
Lord Cameron is said to have discussed it with the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard during a Commonwealth summit in Perth in October 2011.
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“I didn’t get the sense there was any great enthusiasm from the palace and the Queen herself.”
On July 22nd, 2013, Kate gave birth to Prince George, who is next in line to the throne behind his father, Prince William.
Princess Charlotte, George’s sister, is ahead of their younger brother Prince Louis in the Royal Family’s line of succession as a result of the 2013 rule change.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have returned to school this week.
The three young royals are pupils at Lambrook School, a preparatory school located in Windsor.
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The three young royals are pupils at Lambrook School, a preparatory school located in Windsor.
This summer holiday held particular importance for Prince George, who enters Year 8 upon his return to Lambrook this week.
This marks his final academic year at the preparatory school as Lambrook provides education through to Year 8.
George is scheduled to finish his studies there in the summer of 2026, before transitioning to secondary education.