British Prime Minister David Cameron says leaders of the Commonwealth will discuss whether to change the rules of succession to the British throne when they meet later this month.

Mr. Cameron said Wednesday that he has written to the heads of the 15 other Commonwealth nations to propose that the rules be changed to allow first-born daughters of the monarch to inherit the throne.

Under the new proposal, any first-born child of the newly married Prince William and former Kate Middleton would succeed William to the throne, regardless of gender.

Cameron said the current rule runs contrary to gender equality.

He also proposed a change in the rule that says a British monarch cannot be married to a Catholic. Mr. Cameron called that rule a “historical anomaly.”

Commonwealth nations include several Caribbean islands, Canada, Australia, and some Pacific islands.