Women and Catholic-chasers Now In Line to Become Empty Figureheads

Royal succession has been forever altered at the Commonwealth summit in Perth.

After 1,000 years, the rules of the game are about to change: The British monarchy will now allow female first-born children to become heirs to the throne. Increasing public pressure came after the public realized that it was possible for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Will and Kate, to have a girl as their first child. The rules will also now allow for monarchs to marry Catholics without penalty. (Though of course it would be unheard of to see a Catholic, Jew, or Muslim actually rise to the throne, since the reigning monarch is still the head of the Church of England.) The decision followed a unanimous vote from the 16 Commonwealth countries, in which Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the move was "in line with Canadian values."

Image courtesy of Reuters