Tessa Jowell, has added her voice to those calling for an end to male succession and for sex equality in the Royal Family.

In an FT interview, the culture secretary backs legislation to over-ride the 1701 Act of Settlement which enshrines an 800 year old tradition giving the monarch's oldest son automatic right of succession - even if he has an older sister.

"There's now a general acceptance that daughters should be able to succeed to the throne and not be overtaken by their younger brothers. If legislation were brought forward to give sons and daughters equal precedence I'd support it," she told the newspaper.