Filed under: Prince William

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Could there be a wave of girl power taking over the monarchy?

Right now, according to the Act of Settlement, which determines royal succession, Prince William and Kate Middleton's first-born son would be next in line (after his father) to the British throne -- even if he had an older sister. But Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, hopes to reform the "discriminatory" rules, allowing the couple's oldest daughter to accede ahead of any younger siblings.

Although William and Kate hadn't even walked down the aisle yet, speculation about the birth date of their first child has already started, with many expecting a baby to arrive within a year after the wedding. And, if you believe supermarket tabloid reports, a bun may already be in the royal oven.

The possible arrival of a newborn princess puts some urgency on the government, but any constitutional changes could take years and would need to be implemented in the 15 commonwealth countries. Plus, more important matters, such as the deficit, may postpone any immediate efforts to rewrite history.

In 2005, a bill was introduced to give female royals the same rights as male heirs, but it was dismissed because Princes William and Harry were not near the altar.

Gallery: The Royal Weddings of Windsor
Fast forward to today. In less than two weeks, William will marry Kate, who some are claiming will be the royal family's savior. Even Queen Elizabeth II is said to agree with the revisions, although she's forbidden to publicly voice her views so as not to influence any political decisions.

This latest proposal, which was presented to the House of Commons earlier this week, is slated for debate in May. Until then, there's a wedding to plan.

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