Denmark’s referendum on an amendment to the law on royal succession resulted in a majority in favour of adopting what is known as absolute primogeniture – allowing the monarch’s first-born of either gender to ascend the throne.

Under the Danish constitution, changes to laws on succession must be passed by two successive parliaments, separated by an election, and finally confirmed by a referendum in which at least 40 percent of the entire electorate must turn out and vote in favour.

With most of the votes counted, the result of Sunday’s referendum, which was held simultaneously with European Parliament elections, gave 45.5 percent of the entire electorate in favour, 7.8 percent against and 5.3 percent returned neutral votes. Turnout was some 59 percent.

The amendment to the law is unlikely to have any practical importance for some time, as Crown Prince Frederik is next in line to the throne currently held by his mother Queen Margrethe II. Prince Frederik’s first-born is also male – Prince Christian.