Royal baby granted right to British throne

Government officials in Britain agreed to draft a new law to secure PRINCE WILLIAM's unborn child the right to the throne on the day the royal couple confirmed their baby news.

The British royal and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge confirmed this week (beg03Dec12) they are to become first-time parents and it has now emerged that authorities have drafted an agreement to ensure the baby's place in the line of succession even if the child is a girl.

Rules dating back centuries state royal women in line to the British throne are passed over by their male relatives, but a new law will ensure that if the duchess gives birth to a daughter, she will be given the right to rule after her father.

The agreement comes after months of negotiations and was confirmed on Monday (03Dec12), the day William and Catherine announced their happy news.

Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has revealed a new piece of legislation, the Succession to the Crown Bill, will now be drawn up and made law by parliament before the duchess gives birth next year (13).

He says, "This is a historic moment for our country and our monarchy. People across the realms of the Commonwealth will be celebrating the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their first child. We can also celebrate that whether the baby is a boy or girl, they will have an equal claim to the throne. It's a wonderful coincidence that the final confirmation... arrived on the day the Duke and Duchess made their announcement... If the Duke and Duchess have a baby girl, she can one day be queen even if she later has younger brothers."