IF THE SUCCESSION LAWS ARE CHANGED TO EQUAL PRIMOGENITURE, WILL IT AFFECT SUCCESSION TO PEERAGES AS WELL?

If the Succession Laws have been altered from Male Primogeniture to Equal Primogeniture, will it start period to Peerage titles as well, or it will usually regard period to the Throne?

For example, the stream Duke of York has usually 2 daughters as well as no sons, so as if (unless special Letters Patent have been released), after his genocide the pretension will combine with the Throne. However, if Equal Primogeniture is adopted, could Beatrice get the Dukedom?

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

St N August 28, 2011 at 6:03 pm

Good question. It will all depend on the final wording of the law. If Will and Kate have a son, then they might not even bother changing the rules. If they do, the wording should apply to both the throne and the peerages, the House of Lords may wish to treat the two as different entities.

Que sera, sera.

Paco August 28, 2011 at 6:46 pm

Actually peerages are governed by their individual letters patent. They are all different. Some must go down the direct line only, and cannot go to cousins. Many do not permit women. Many of the Scottish ones permit females to become Earls in their own right.

By a significant amount the wealthiest peer is the Duke of Westminster. He has one son, and his letters patent forbid inheritance outside of the direct line. Should his son die before producing a son, the title will die. It cannot be requested by a cousin.

So no one single law can legally force all the peerages to obey one rule of succession.

However, it is my belief that this is one of the main reasons behind the lack of desire to change the royal line of succession is that it will put a lot of pressure to update the peerages as well.

Another reason is that it will give the republicans a platform to speak. For instance if Australia has to approve a new act to change the laws of royal succession, they may just take advantage of the time to simply declare themselves a republic.

Personally, I think they should wait and see if it matters. If there is an actual living breathing daughter than popular support will be very strong, and it will be much easier to change the law.

Olly August 28, 2011 at 6:58 pm

That would be at their discretion.

Josh August 28, 2011 at 7:54 pm

No unless the actually stipulated it to extend to all peers. If it did Beatrice would inherit the title. I think it unlikely though as I think the government is hoping hereditary peers will die out eventually because of the salic tradition held in many of the patents.

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