Archer's novel approach to crown

The princes William and Harry could be side-stepped to allow the crown to pass to the Princess Royal under a private member's bill being prepared by Lord Archer, the author and friend of John Major.

The Queen and close members of the Royal Family who have formed a group to consider changes to the monarchy are believed to support Lord Archer's proposal to change the 11th-century laws of succession through the male line.

Lord Archer, a Tory life peer, said he had decided to table a bill to end primogeniture after hearing the Queen was interested in seeing a change in the law. She discussed the idea with her group at Balmoral when Mr Major visited.

It is unlikely a bill will reach the Statute Book before the election but Lord Archer's intervention could raise the issue for later action.

The divorce of the Prince and Princess of Wales raised public doubts about the succession. The Princess Royal, who remarried, may be seen as a more popular choice for the succession than Prince Charles or his sons and would also give him the freedom to marry Camilla Parker Bowles.