SIR – David Cameron’s changes to the succession laws will mean the eldest child of a monarch will now inherit the British throne, whether a boy or girl.

Thank heaven this rule was not in force when Queen Victoria died, as her eldest child Victoria would have acceded to the throne instead of her brother, who became Edward VII. She married the German Kaiser Frederick II and in so doing would have changed the course of history.

We would not now be preparing to celebrate the diamond anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. a woman who has always put duty first and continues to do so as an octogenarian.

It would be great if the Queen became our longest-reigning monarch.

David Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford