Distant Heir To British Throne Will Be Disqualified After Marrying Catholic

Peter Phillips, grandson of Queen Elizabeth and tenth in line to the throne, will be required to renounce his unlikely possibility of becoming king of England now that he has announced his engagement to Autumn Kelly, who was baptized in 1978 as a Roman Catholic. Yesterday's Times Online reports that even if Miss Kelly does not in fact practice her religion, Phillips' marriage to her will disqualify him under the 1701 Act of Settlement that prohibits the monarch or heirs to the throne from marrying a Catholic. Tablet editor Catherine Pepinster said the Act of Settlement is "the last symbol of Britain’s anti-Catholic history". Phillips is the only son of Princess Anne. Currently he performs no royal duties and works for the Royal Bank of Scotland.