The centuries-old practice of aristocratic titles only being passed on to male descendants could be about to come to an end, with several high-society heiresses set to inherit the family land and titles.
Boris Johnson is understood to have ordered the issue of male primogeniture be looked into as part of plans to make Parliament more welcoming to women.
If the practice is abolished, it would mean for the first time first-born daughters would take on their father s peerage instead of younger sons, as seen in shows such as ITV s Downton Abbey.
Here, FEMAIL reveals the stunning socialites who could inherit the family pile, and titles, under the new proposals, including Princess Diana s niece Kitty Spencer and Lady Willa Franks.
Share
Leading the group is the Prime Minister s press secretary, Allegra Stratton, and parliamentary private secretary Trudy Harrison.
The passing on of the throne to eldest males was abolished for the British monarchy in 2011 under a reform which allowed first-born daughters to take the crown.
But peers at the time prevented the reform from applying to them
Among those to throw their support behind the proposal today is Viscount Torrington of the Hereditary Peerage Association.
He told the Times: A survey of our members found the majority in favour. Those who were not didn t want their surname to go but that is solvable .