The law that forces the daughter of a monarch to make way for her younger brother is set to be abolished, it has been revealed.
Ministers are expected to use new equality legislation to guarantee women's succession rights, superseding the provisions in the 1701 Act of Settlement.
Solicitor General Vera Baird, who will help steer the new law through Parliament, said the current arrangements were "unfair" and "a load of rubbish".
"I have always thought that what we have to do with the Royal Family is integrate them as far as possible into the human race," she told the Sunday Times.
Ms Baird also wants to repeal the law banning the heir to the throne from marrying a Catholic.
"The ban on Catholics should be abolished, too, because that is discriminatory," she added.
The move was welcomed by Liberal Democrat equalities spokeswoman Lynne Featherstone, who said the rule should be "confined to the dustbin of history".
"We can't have a law that is meant to fight discrimination and injustice but allows a blatantly sexist law on royal succession to continue," she said. "This is the perfect time to change the law when there is no one who will be personally affected. It shouldn't create a hue and cry."
Shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert said there was a "strong case" for making the change, but insisted wide-ranging consultation would be needed.
"Other countries where the Queen is Head of State will be affected by these proposals, and lifting the prohibition on heirs to the throne from marrying Catholics is not straightforward as it raises broader issues relating to the established church."
Read More
MORE ABOUT