1ST-BORN SON RULE IN BRITAIN TO BE HISTORY?Byline: Warren Hoge The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times Queen Elizabeth has told Parliament that she approves of plans to end the ages-old tradition of the first-born son's succeeding to the British throne. The junior home office minister, Lord Williams of Mostynn, delivered the news Friday to the House of Lords House of Lords: see Parliament. in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of a constitutional debate. The queen, he said, has ``no objection to the government's view that, in determining the line of succession Noun 1. line of succession - the order in which individuals are expected to succeed one another in some official position line - a formation of people or things one behind another; "the line stretched clear around the corner"; "you must wait in a long line at the to the throne, daughters and sons should be treated in the same way.'' This means Prince William's eldest child, whether a girl or a boy, will follow him to the throne. The change, if passed by Parliament, would make no difference to the heir apparent heir apparent n. the person who is expected to receive a share of the estate of a family member if he/she lives longer, or is not specifically disinherited by will. (See: heir) , Prince Charles, or his eldest son, William. Queen Elizabeth II became the monarch only because her father, King George VI, died without sons. Peers and royal watchers were caught by surprise as word of the queen's view emerged with none of the drama one might expect of an edict changing 800 years of royal practice. According to the BBC BBC in full British Broadcasting Corp. Publicly financed broadcasting system in Britain. A private company at its founding in 1922, it was replaced by a public corporation under royal charter in 1927. court correspondent, Buckingham Palace officials said it was unprecedented for the queen to make her views known ahead of legislation in this way. The action immediately gave rise to speculation that this was a step by the queen to address public longing that she modernize the monarchy in the wake of the death of Princess Diana on Aug. 31. In the emotional aftermath of that convulsive con·vul·sive adj. 1. Characterized by or having the nature of convulsions. 2. Having or producing convulsions. convulsive pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of a convulsion. event, the royal family was faulted for being out of touch with the British population and challenged to make the monarchy more accessible. One of the most noted characteristics of the crowds that flocked to the sites associated with Diana was the fact that so many of the people were women. Hearing of the queen's position, Harold Brooks-Baker, director of Burke's Peerage, said: ``This is just one more step on the way to modernizing the monarchy and bringing it from the 18th century into the 20th century.'' Williams conveyed the queen's sentiments in the midst of a debate on the Succession to the Crown Bill The Succession to the Crown Bill was a British Private Member's Bill aimed at reforming the manner of succession to the British Monarchy published in the House of Lords by Labour peer Lord Dubs on December 9, 2004, and withdrawn by him on January 14, 2005, after the Government said , piloted by Jeffrey Archer, the novelist and former Conservative Party deputy chairman now known as Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare. ``Who among us would say on balance that our kings have been more impressive and have more impressive records than our queens?'' Archer asked. ``Queen Elizabeth II is respected and admired from one side of the globe to the other, and the idea that her great-granddaughter should not be allowed to ascend to the throne ahead of a younger brother is not only farcical far·ci·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to farce. 2. a. Resembling a farce; ludicrous. b. Ridiculously clumsy; absurd. far but insulting to over half the population of this country.'' Williams said a bill introduced by an individual peer was not an appropriate vehicle for ``such a major constitutional measure'' and should properly be the focus of a government bill. Archer, a Conservative peer, promptly withdrew his bill on the assurance that the Labor government of Prime Minister Tony Blair would follow through with a formal measure. Archer said he was pleasantly surprised by the turn of events. ``I am delighted both to hear what her majesty has said and to hear what the government has said.'' Williams said the government had consulted the queen before going on record as favoring the change. |
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