Prince William and Catherine have only just announced their pregnancy in its early stages, but speculation over the name and sex of the baby already has the rumour mill churning.
Confirmed: Kate Middleton is pregnant
The baby will be born third in line to the throne, thanks to laws changed last year in Britain, and it will be the first time in almost 120 years a serving monarch gets to meet a great grandchild born directly into succession to the crown.
The newest royal arrival will see Harry bumped down to fourth in line, and thanks to changes in law, if the baby is born a girl she could be Queen.
Prior to the amendments proclaimed by Queen Elizabeth at the State Opening of Parliament in London on Wednesday, any future daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would lose the crown to a brother.
Since 1688, the laws of primogeniture saw the throne pass to the eldest son, even if he had an older sister.
The queen has now confirmed that the British government will introduce a bill to scrap the sexist succession laws and make any daughter of William and Catherine’s just as important as any son.
At the time of the change in June this year, British Prime Minister David Cameron said the previous laws were outdated.
Kate Middleton: A year in dresses
“The idea that a younger son should become monarch instead of an elder daughter, simply because he is a man just isn’t acceptable anymore.”
Cameron was one of the first to congratulate the couple, taking to Twitter to say “they will make wonderful parents.”
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