Rob: Hello, I'm Rob…
Stephen: And I'm Stephen.
Rob: And this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Today we're talking
about royalty and succession.
Stephen: Succession is the act of taking over the position of King or Queen – and there
are certain rules about who can succeed.
Rob: Yes and for the British Royal Family these rules have just changed. We'll talk
a bit more about that soon but as always I like to start the programme with a
question. So Stephen, are you ready?
Stephen: I guess so!
Rob: This is a royal question! Can you tell me which King did the current British
Queen, Queen Elizabeth the Second, succeed? Was it:
a) King George the Fifth
b) King George the Sixth
c) King Edward the Eighth
Stephen: I think it's a George and I'm going to guess King George the Sixth
Rob: OK, well, we'll see if you're right at the end of the programme. Now let's get
back to the subject of royalty and particularly succession. Many people are
fascinated by royal families – their every move is analysed because people
want to see if they are worthy of their title.
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Stephen: And people closely watch the princes and princesses because they could one
day be the next monarch.
Rob: A monarch is the person who rules the country – in other words the King or
Queen. If the current ruling monarch dies or abdicates, their oldest son or
daughter could be their successor.
Stephen: But in the UK, old succession laws meant that it was always the eldest son who
would take over the throne, unless of course there is only a daughter, as is the
case with the British Queen.
Rob: So men were always preferred over women in succession simply because of
their gender. And many people felt these restrictions were outdated and out of
touch with the modern world. But they've recently been updated. Let's hear
about these changes from the BBC's Duncan Kennedy. Listen to what would
happen if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – William and Kate – were to
have a girl first…
Duncan Kennedy, BBC
Changes to the monarchy as big as this need approval from all 16 realms where the Queen is
head of state and now, at the bi-annual meeting of the Commonwealth, agreement has been
reached. David Cameron said the changes would end male dominance and that the order of
succession to the throne would now depend on the order of birth. Mr Cameron said if the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, were to have a girl first, she would one
day become Queen. The Prime Minister said the rule banning future monarchs from marrying
Catholics would also be scrapped.
Rob: So Duncan Kennedy says these are big changes to the British monarchy. They
needed approval, or agreement, from the 16 countries where the Queen is
head of state.
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Stephen: Well approval was given and the order of succession to the throne is now
simply down to the order of birth. British Prime Minister, David Cameron,
says it would end male dominance.
Rob: So this means in the future, if William and Kate have a baby girl first, she
would one day be Queen.
Stephen: Rob, there was another change to the rules about the monarchy that Duncan
Kennedy mentioned?
Rob: Yes, it was to a controversial law that banned future monarchs from marrying
Catholics. Previously, if they did, they would be ruled out of succession.
Stephen: But they were allowed to marry people from other religions though?
Rob: That's right. It seems strange but it's all to do with the history of the country
and an attempt by Parliament to prevent a Catholic monarch. Anyway, the ban
on marrying Catholics has now been lifted and Duncan Kennedy can tell us
more on this historic change of law…
Duncan Kennedy, BBC
It's understood the Queen has given the reforms her full backing. Mr Cameron said it was an
historic moment for the monarchy as the changes would sweep aside what he called out-dated
rules that don't make sense anymore. The changes have to be formally approved by all the
nations involved with Britain taking the lead in bringing forward legislation.
Stephen: So he calls these changes reforms – and the Queen has given these reforms her
full backing.
Rob: That's good because David Cameron said the old rules don't make sense
anymore! He calls it an historic moment for the monarchy.
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Stephen: By historic, he means they are important and likely to be seen as important at
some point in the future.
Rob: I'm sure they will be. The changes aim to give the British Royal Family a
modern outlook and perhaps it was inevitable after the huge international
attention that William and Kate have attracted.
Stephen: So in other words, their popularity around the world has helped these changes
happen more quickly.
Rob: And putting the changes in place – or implementing them - will overturn 300
years of tradition, custom and law. Maybe it will help secure the future of the
monarchy for centuries to come. Anyway, it's time to return to today's question.
Stephen: I thought you'd forgotten!
Rob: Of course not. I asked you, which King did the current British Queen, Queen
Elizabeth the Second, succeed. Was it:
a) King George the Fifth
b) King George the Sixth
c) King Edward the Eighth
Stephen: And I said King George the Sixth.
Rob: You are right. The answer is King George the Sixth. He was succeeded by his
eldest daughter Elizabeth when he died in 1952. Queen Elizabeth the Second
has been on the throne ever since – that's almost 60 years. OK Stephen, would
you mind reminding us of some of the vocabulary that we've heard today?
Stephen: Sure. We've had…
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 6
succession
monarch
abdicates
outdated
approval
dominance
ruled out
historic
reforms
implementing
Rob: Thanks Stephen. Well we hope you've enjoyed today's programme, and you'll
join us again soon for another 6 Minute English.
Both: Bye!
