Julia Gillard praises royal succession law change
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has praised the decision to amend royal succession laws to allow male and female heirs equal rights to the throne.
The leaders of the 16 Commonwealth countries where the Queen is head of state approved the changes at a summit in Perth, Australia.
The ban on the monarch being married to a Roman Catholic was also lifted.
Ms Gillard said that as the first female Australian prime minister she was "very enthusiastic" about the move.
28 Oct 2011