The Act of Settlement and the Line of Succession

[Furienna]

But that Roman-Catholics are specifically targeted by a law in this day and age, is just weird. I wouldn't have said much about it, if the law had said "the consort must belong to the Church of England", that is, all other religions than the CoE were forbidden. But basically, a prince of a princess could marry a Jew, a Muslim, a Hindu etc, but not a Catholic. I know there are reasons for why this law came about, but that was three hundred years ago.

It does make sense though, that the monarch should belong to the Church of England, as he or she also is the head of said church. But his or her consort should be able to belong to another religion, even the Roman-Catholic church.

[Lumutqueen]

There has been no need to change that particular stipulation because those actually close to the throne understand. Those who it's affected are significantly away from being a Monarch.

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi,

When this story came out last Thursday, an American journalist assessed the situation and surmised that despite any decision made now nothing would occur regarding William's and Catherine's child (boy or girl) for nearly 50 years.

We still have to go through the reigns of The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William himself; and the child may not succeed for another 5 decades....

As far as religion is concerned, that may not be resolved until an Heir/Spare wants to marry a Catholic

Larry

[Madame Royale]

If that's the view that's to be taken by many, then nothing will ever change.

That there's another 50 or so years to get through should not be used as a deterrent to ammend this Act and bring it into the 21st century reflecting both modern and ethical expectations.

[Kasumi]

Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: The 'rightful heir' to the Scottish throne
A GERMAN who became a princess after marrying into the little-known Liechtenstein royal family would lay claim to being Scotland's next rightful hereditary queen if laws banning Catholics on the throne were repealed.
Interior design enthusiast Sophie Elisabeth Marie Gabrielle, 44, will one day rule over the tiny European principality following a fairytale wedding to the country's Prince Alois in 1993.
But her family tree shows she is also part of the direct lineage of the House of Stuart, which was kept off the combined thrones of England and Scotland in the late 17th century then effectively ousted by the 1701 Act of Settlement that outlawed Catholic monarchs.
Last week the Scottish Parliament debated repealing the 310-year-old legislation, which eventually led to the Jacobite Uprisings, amid widespread belief it is now outdated and discriminatory on sectarian grounds.

[Duke of Leaside]

Wikepedia states that Lady Amelia Windsor converted to Roman Catholicism in January 2012, although it is not cited anywhere. I can't find anything to back this up. Does anyone know if this is true and therefore Lady Amelia is out of the line of succession to the throne?

[Baroness of Books]

[QUOTE=Kasumi;1341538]Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: The 'rightful heir' to the Scottish throne/QUOTE]This is such a fascinating story, Kasumi, thank you for posting.

[Thena]

Originally Posted by Duke of Leaside

Wikepedia states that Lady Amelia Windsor converted to Roman Catholicism in January 2012, although it is not cited anywhere. I can't find anything to back this up. Does anyone know if this is true and therefore Lady Amelia is out of the line of succession to the throne?

I don't know if Lady Amelia has converted, but I know that I've been burned by Wikipedia in the past. I see the actual article is unprotected, meaning that anyone can edit it. Looking at the revision history, it appears that an unregistered user added the line about her conversion on February 10, 2012. A registered user then flagged that line to clarify that a citation is needed.

Lady Amelia also still appears on the line of succession on the official British monarchy web site, so I'd take what Wikipedia says with a grain of salt.

[Kataryn]

Originally Posted by Baroness of Books

This is such a fascinating story, Kasumi, thank you for posting.

Unfortunately it's not true. The lady did not become a princess on her marriage, she was born one: HRH Sophie, Princess of Bavaria, Duchess in Bavaria. She is the eldest niece of the current Head of the House of Wittelsbach, Duke Francis, who is the current Jacobite "king" of England and Scotland. As Francis has no children, his brother Max, father of the princess Sophie, will follow him one day. As Max only has daughters, the Jacobite claim will stay with Sophie and thus change into the House of Liechtenstein, while the Headship of the Royal House of Bavaria will be inherited by a cadet branch of the family.

But first Francis and Max have to be buried, before Sophie could lay claim to the Crowns of the Stuarts and the Bavarians have never sought to make good on this claim... So - a no story.

[Esmerelda]

Also, I thought changes to the law of succession regarding Catholics only allowed the monarch to be married to a Catholic, not to become one himself or herself.

[Artemisia]

Originally Posted by Duke of Leaside

Wikepedia states that Lady Amelia Windsor converted to Roman Catholicism in January 2012, although it is not cited anywhere. I can't find anything to back this up. Does anyone know if this is true and therefore Lady Amelia is out of the line of succession to the throne?

I do not know whether the statement is accurate, but if it is, then Lady Amelia is no longer in the Line of Succession.
Firstly, the rules the proposed changes haven't been adopted yet. And secondly, the changes only deal with marriages to Catholics; those in the Line of Succession still cannot be Catholics or convert without losing their place.

Originally Posted by Esmerelda

Also, I thought changes to the law of succession regarding Catholics only allowed the monarch to be married to a Catholic, not to become one himself or herself.

That is correct.
While the proposed changes allow marriages to Catholics for all those in the Line of Succession, children of such couple cannot be raised in Catholic faith. Converting to Catholicism would automatically remove someone from the Line of Succession. In addition, the Monarch must always belong to the Church of England.

[Iluvbertie]

And these changes are still probably some years away from being enacted as there are 15 other realms who have to pass the legislation (and possibly even some of the states and/or provinces of Australia or Canada depending on their own constitutions). These governments also have other issues to deal with so it is possible that nothing will happen until the necessity arises for something to happen e.g. William has a daughter and then a son. If that doesn't happen then it can be put on the back burner for another generation.