Mega Gossip On Kate Middleton
Kate Middleton: New succession rules could make her mother of Britain’s next queen
Kate Middleton could be the first British royal in centuries to see an eldest daughter become Queen instead of a younger brother.
Under the century-old tradition of male primogeniture, if the eldest child was a girl she would only become queen if none of her younger siblings were girls. Now, with the assent of 16 countries in the Commonwealth, girls will be just as eligible as their brothers, meaning the eldest child will always ascend to the throne.
The change in law, which is expected to soon be formalized in the British parliament, also lifts a ban on Catholic heirs – a move British Prime Minister David Cameron and Catholic leaders have praised.
Here are five would-be queens who were leap-frogged by their brothers for the throne:
- Christa Case Bryant, Staff writer
Kate Middleton attends the July wedding of Zara Phillips, granddaughter of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, and England rugby star Mike Tindall in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Dylan Martinez/AP/File)
In 1509, Henry VIII took the throne. But if first-born daughters had been eligible to rule, his elder sister Margaret Tudor would have taken power instead.
Margaret, the daughter of an English king and the wife of a Scottish king, made it her main political aim to uniteEngland and Scotland. While Margaret’s life had tragic elements, she ultimately succeeded in her goal – albeit after her death – when her great-grandson become King James I of England in 1603. King James united the crowns of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and commissioned the King James version of the Bible – considered by some scholars as the finest work ever written in the English language.
Kate Middleton Shows Off Her Shoulders - Her Best "Daring" Looks
Kate Middleton knows how to get people talking. In her first ever solo event without hubby Prince William, the royal beauty charmed guests at an event to support , an organization founded by the Prince of Wales thatmatches surplus goods from manufacturers and retailers with UK charities in need.
The Prince and his new bride pride themselves on their charity events. Only a couple of weeks ago the royal couple helped raise $1 million for breast cancer research at the All Saints hosted dinner.
Middleton looked lovely at her event sans William as she dared to bare her shoulders in a vintage Amanda Wakeley evening gown. With her hair half up and half down her style looked effortlessly gorgeous. The regal babe loves to play around with her style. Here's our most loved "daring" looks from our favorite British import:
Royal in Red
The Duchess of Cambridge has a wardrobe made up of mostly bland, neutral tones but at the fundraising event for the Child Bereavement Charity Middleton looked absolutely stunning in red. The dress had a surprisingly plunging neckline and a fashionable wrap waist. Is this a new look Kate will be exploring in the future? We hope so!!
Tasteful in Town and Country Look
Although her days of being the reigning Duchess of Cambridge were years away, in 2004 Middleton posed in front of Blenheim Palace. In the photo she shows off her toned legs and easygoing smile in a regal town and country look. Although the look wasn't very daring at the time we don't think she'd be spotted wearing this nowadays.
Sassy in Sheer
We haven't seen her in it but that doesn't mean the Duchess doesn't know how to get down and flirty once in awhile! Middleton wore a see through sheer knitted dress at the annual St. Andrews University fashion show in 2002 and the dress, only a $50 value, auctioned off for $125,000 in March. Would Kate wear something like that today? Probably only behind closed doors with her prince.
Playful in Periwinkle
The Duchess looked dashing when she attended Prince Philip's 90th birthday service. The daring color looked beautiful on the periwinkle blue Jane Troughton brocade coat she wore as well as the hat in the same color by Jane Corbett.
What's your favorite daring look from The Duchess?
Prince William, Kate Middleton's Firstborn Daughter Can Be Queen!
Girl power!
If Duchess Kate and Prince William have a daughter someday, she can grow up to be Queen, even if she has younger brothers!
VIDEO: Will and Kate talk babies!
Upending centuries of royal law, leaders of the 16 countries that recognize the British monarchy agreed Friday that a firstborn daughter should be able to ascend the throne even if she has younger brothers.
PHOTOS: Adorable pics of William and Harry growing up as young royals
"The idea that a younger son should become monarch instead of an elder daughter simply because he's a man, or that a future monarch can marry someone of any faith except a Catholic -- this way of thinking is at odds with the modern countries that we’ve all become," British Prime Minister David Cameron said in a speech in Perth, Australia, at a conference of Commonwealth countries, as excerpted by the Los Angeles Times.
PHOTOS: Would Kate's daughter inherit her fashion sense?
Cameron told reporters that "the time has come to change the rule so that if the royal couple have a girl rather than a boy, then that little girl will be our queen."
PHOTOS: How Kate got ready for life as a royal
Although William and Kate, both 29, have only been married six months, they do have plans for kids in the fu true. "I think we'll take it one step in the time," William said in November. "We'll sort of get over the marriage thing first, then look at the kids. But obviously, we want a family."
Kate Middleton reveals secret scar from her past. What really happened?
Close-up of Kate, duchess of Cambridge, and the scar that led the palace to reveal details about a childhood operation …
If it were any other celebrity, they probably would have been right. But the low-maintenance duchess had a bigger secret that had nothing to do with beauty. The mark on her head is a scar from a "very serious operation" according to the Daily Mail. St. James Palace officials confirmed Kate's scar was from an operation she had as a child, but wouldn't go into further detail.
See also: Kate's beautiful beaded gown
Specialists have already weighed in on what kind of operation it might have been: “Anything, including a birthmark, trauma, neurosurgery or a benign growth of the skin,” Dr. Roy Geronemus, director of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, told ABC News.
As a low-drama princess, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Kate put her traumatic childhood experience far behind her. Since she first became one of the most-watched women in the world, she's kept an impeccably bright smile at every turn. The only recall of childhood trauma were reports that she was bullied in school for being skinny. No health-related issues have ever been excavated by reporters (and you better believe they've tried). Nobody imagined Kate lived anything but a completely charmed life. But William's princess isn't one to complain.
(Photo by Paul Burns/Clarence House via Getty Images)
See also: Kate's most famous looks
She knew her appearance, like every one she's made since her wedding, would be in the spotlight, but she probably didn't realize her hairline would be sharing the attention. The fashion police jumped at the chance to find a flaw in her hairstyle—a seam in her natural beauty. But again Middleton proved she's all real, right down to her follicles. She also proved there's more to her than we'll ever know.
Kate Middleton's Childhood ScarDuchess of Cambridge has a 3-inch scar from a childhood operation.