British Royals Usher In Bold New Era: Women Rule!
The British monarchy has finally changed an antiquated set of rules that everyone had forgotten about. Up until now, the rules for British royal succession were that sons trumped daughters no matter what, even if the daughters were older. There also was, until today, a rule barring would-be monarchs from marrying Roman Catholics. Now the entire Commonwealth of 16 nations who still, in 2011, consider Queen Elizabeth their sovereign, have agreed to changing the rules at Prime Minister David Cameron's behest. 
The rules date back to the late 1600s, when Catholics were seen as a threat to the British state. Apparently that's no longer the case! Another weird thing about that rule was that Catholics were the only verboten religious group. You could even marry an atheist.
As for the male precedence issue, we were surprised that one's still in effect. Reuters notes that this was all stirred up by the recent marriage of Kate Middleton to Prince Wills, and that it wouldn't go over well, PR-wise, if the old rules were still in place for their children. Though that's assuming that the British monarchy will still exist by then!
Is it time for the royal wedding again?
[rgray@villagevoice.com] [@_rosiegray]
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