The Prime Minister admitted the centuries-old laws, which give men a greater claim to the throne than their older sisters and prevent those in the line of succession from marrying Catholics, are a source of controversy.
But he said the public expects such prejudice to be removed in the 21st century, and insisted the historic moves would not affect the position of the monarchy or lead to the disestablishment of the Church of England.
However any changes to the 1701 Act of Settlement would have to be agreed by all 15 of the foreign Commonwealth countries of which the Queen is the head of state.
There is concern that if the issue were debated in the parliaments of Australia and Canada, where there is strong anti-monarchist sentiment, it would be the "thin end of the wedge" that could be used as a way for those countries to become republics.
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