Prime Minister Gordon Brown has got a bee in his bonnet about the Royal succession rules that give male heirs a priority. The fact that Prince William’s first child might be a girl indicates that a constitutional crisis could be sparked, and Brown is pushing to prevent this from happening.

It is the 1701 Act of Settlement law which needs to be reformed, according to Brown. The law also states that members of the Royal Family cannot marry Roman Catholics.

Brown believes the law is outdated and it is expected that he will raise the issue when he attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government this coming weekend.

Read more: Royal Law