The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 is a piece of legislation in the United Kingdom which alters the laws of succession to the British throne . It was published on 13 December 2012 and received Royal Assent on 25 April 2013 . Known as the Perth Agreement , on 28 October 2011 , at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Perth , Western Australia , heads of government of 16 Commonwealth realms , which share Queen Elizabeth II as head of state , announced that they would introduce legislation to end the primacy of male children over female in the succession to the Crown . The Succession to the Crown Bill is to give effect in the United Kingdom to the agreement between heads of government . The argument for changing the law on succession can be stated simply : the law as it stands is considered to discriminate against women and Catholics . The Government has said that it opposes discrimination in all forms , including against Catholics . However , numerous attempts to alter the succession to remove such clauses through '' ' Private Members ’ bills ' '' have not been successful , and the Government has now brought forward its own legislation on the matter . Consequently , to change the law , the government have sought consent of the fifteen Commonwealth countries that have the Queen as their head of state , under the preamble to the Statute of Westminster 1931 . Amending old legislation fundamental to the British constitution , have raised further questions about the nature of the established church and the Union between England and Scotland . '' ' Private Members ' bills ' '' The First , Second and Third Succession Acts were created to determine successors of Henry VIII , in consequence of his several wives . These circumstances evoked more legislation . In response to his excommunication ; that Henry 's '' imperial crown '' had been diminished by " the unreasonable and uncharitable usurpations and exactions " of the Pope , the Act of Supremacy in 1534 declared that the King was " the only Supreme Head in Earth of the Church of England " and the Treasons Act 1534 made it high treason , punishable by death , to refuse to acknowledge the King as such
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011
Royal Succession Bills and Acts