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Royal Marriages and Succession to the Crown (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill 2008-09

Type of Bill:
Private Members' Bill (Ballot Bill)
Sponsor:
Dr Evan Harris

Progress of the Bill

Bill started in the House of Commons

  1. House of Commons
    1. 1st reading
    2. 2nd reading
    3. Committee stage
    4. Report stage
    5. 3rd reading
  2. House of Lords
    1. 1st reading
    2. 2nd reading
    3. Committee stage
    4. Report stage
    5. 3rd reading
  3. Consideration of Amendments
  4. Royal Assent

Last event

Latest Bill

House Bill Date
Commons Bill as introduced | PDF version, 79KB 13.03.2009

Latest news on the Bill

This Bill was on the Order Paper 16 October, to resume the adjourned Second Reading from 27 March, but there was not enough time for debate on that day.

This Bill has since been dropped by its sponsor Dr Evan Harris.

Summary of the Bill

The line of succession for the UK monarchy follows the hereditary principle with certain restrictions. The Crown passes to males ahead of females, and the monarch can neither be nor marry a Roman Catholic.  Any heir that marries a Catholic is removed from the line of succession.

Key areas

  • removes the religious requirement on the monarch's spouse and the preference for men in the line of succession. It would have no effect on the religion of the monarch, who would still be required to be in communion with the Church of England.
  • repeals the Royal Marriages Act 1772, which places certain restrictions on members of the Royal Family marrying without consent of the monarch.

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Related information

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