Fiancee gives up Catholic faith 'to secure royal succession'

Autumn Kelly, the fiancee of Queen Elizabeth's eldest grandson, Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne, has officially renounced her Catholic faith, in order that her future can keep his place in the royal line of succession, several papers said yesterday. Ms Kelly, 31, a Canadian, was accepted into the Church of England before the couple's wedding on May 17, the Times Online reported. A Buckingham Palace source said: "she was not asked to do this; she did it of her own accord." The couple met at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in 2003. They became engaged last July and live together in a cottage in Gatcombe Park, the Gloucestershire estate owned by his mother, the Princess Royal. The wedding will take place at St George's Chapel in Windsor. Mr Phillips does not have a royal title. He works for the Royal Bank of Scotland. Ms Kelly is employed by an American computer firm. The 1701 Act of Settlement which bars monarchs and their heirs from becoming or marrying Catholics, would have forced Mr Phillips to surrender his place in line if Ms Kelly had not converted. Mr Phillips, 30, is currently eleventh in line to the throne. One commentator on the Times Online site pointed out that it is is unlikely Phillips will become king. She said: " The only way he could 'succeed' is if he did a 'Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal' on the 10 successors ahead of him!"