TORONTO – If Kate and Will have a baby girl, she will be in line to the throne ahead of any future brothers, making history.
Currently William is second in line to the throne after his father, Prince Charles, so Kate’s first child is now third in the order of succession.
Prince Harry moves down a notch to fourth.
Until 2011, a first-born child was heir to the throne if a boy; a first-born girl would be Queen only if she never had brothers.
Last year at a Commonwealth conference, leaders of Britain and the 15 former colonies that have Queen Elizabeth and the British Monarchy as their head of state, agreed to new rules which gave females equal status with males in the order of their right to the throne.
Although none of the nations had legislated to make the change as of September 2012, the British Cabinet Office confirmed that this is now the de-facto rule.
With files from The Associated Press
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