Explanatory note

This note is not part of the order, but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This order brings Parts 1 and 2 of the Royal Succession Act 2013 (the Act) into force at 1 pm on 26 March 2015 (New Zealand daylight time).

The Act’s purpose is—

• to implement in New Zealand law changes to the rules of Royal succession approved in principle at a meeting on 28 October 2011, coinciding with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia, or agreed through later discussions among the Sovereign’s Realms:

• to provide for the succession to the Crown to be determined without regard to the sex of people born after 12 noon on 29 October 2011 (New Zealand daylight time):

• to abolish the exclusions from the succession to and possession of the Crown of people who marry a person of the Roman Catholic faith:

• to provide for the Royal Marriages Act 1772 to cease to be part of the laws of New Zealand, and to enact in its place provisions requiring the consent of the Sovereign in right of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the marriage of any person at a time when the person is one of the 6 people next in the line of succession to the Crown:

• to validate (for purposes other than succession to the Crown purposes) certain marriages solemnised without awareness of, and compliance with, the requirements of the Royal Marriages Act 1772.

The time and day appointed by this order—which correspond to the beginning of 26 March 2015 by United Kingdom time—ensure synchronisation with related changes in other Realms.