Reforms would see crown passed to first-born, regardless of gender
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canada will endorse a plan by David Cameron’s government in Britain to change the royal succession. Under Cameron’s proposal, the first-born child—whether male or female—would be eligible to inherit the throne, meaning the first child born to Prince William and his wife, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, would be in line to be king or queen, regardless of gender. (The privilege is currently limited to the first-born son.) A spokesperson for Harper says the Conservative government, which has recently been keen to show its monarchist colours, has no problem with the idea, provided it doesn’t distract Ottawa from its focus on “creating jobs and growth in the economy.”