The birth in December of Prince Edward’s first son, James, has bumped Prince Edward’s first born daughter, Louise, down from her position as eighth in line to the throne. Male primogeniture means that male heirs take preference over their female siblings, but this is the first time a female royal has been demoted, since the advent of sex discrimination laws. Jenni discusses the law of primogeniture with Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone, who has asked the Equality and Human Rights Commission to investigate the legality of this centuries old practice, and to royal commentator and author Charles Mosley.
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