The
1701 Act of Succession which bans members of the Royal Family from
marrying a Roman Catholic without renouncing their position in the line of succession may be
about to impact upon the Queen’s immediate family.
It’s reported tonight that Peter Phillips’ Canadian fiancée, Autumn
Kelly, is a
Roman Catholic, meaning Princess Anne’s son looks set to become the
most senior member of the modern day House of Windsor to renounce his right to
the throne for the woman he loves.
At the time of his birth in November 1977, Peter was fifth in the line of
succession. However, he has since fallen to tenth due to the births of children
to the Queen’s male heirs.
Although
it is, of course, highly unlikely that Peter Phillips will
become
King thanks to the sheer number of his more senior royal relations –
not least his cousins, the 'heir
and spare' Prince William and Prince Harry - it is nevertheless rare
for one so close to the throne to renounce their position in this way.
