Commonwealth changes royal succession laws

PERTH, Australia, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Leaders of Commonwealth countries decided Friday to change royal succession laws, giving daughters of future British monarchs an equal right to the throne.

Previously, a first-born son of a monarch is the natural heir to the throne, unless there are no sons born, in which case the crown is passed to the oldest daughter, the BBC reported.

At a summit in Perth, Australia, leaders of the 16 Commonwealth realms unanimously approved a change to allow a first-born daughter to first be considered for queen before any younger brothers.

"Put simply, if the duke and duchess of Cambridge were to have a little girl, that girl would one day be our queen," said British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The summit also lifted a ban on the monarch being married to a Roman Catholic.

The old laws were "at odds with the modern countries that we have become" Cameron said, adding that Prince William's marriage to Catherine Middleton earlier this year prompted the discussion of royal succession laws.

Queen Elizabeth's opening speech at the summit did not directly mention succession laws but she did say women should play a greater role in society.

Legislators in individual Commonwealth countries still have to amend national laws for the changes to go into effect.