For the British royal baby to make a meaningful impact on Canadians, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and Prince William all must pass on or abdicate the throne.
Since the royal legacy lives on through the Governor General, Canada is linked to the Royal baby through a proverbial umbilical cord.
The Governor General position — currently held by David Johnston — is a representative of Queen Elizabeth II.
The dance between the Canadian prime minister and the monarchy of England is a delicate one. The monarch appoints the governor general but on the advice of the prime minister. The governor general reports to the monarch.
The ceremonial duties, such as the kickoff at the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto, are usually when we hear from the Governor General. The person in the position also handles requests to prorogue Parliament, as you might remember when Stephen Harper made the request to then Governor General Michaëlle Jean to prorogue Parliament under controversial circumstances.
Given the longevity of his/her ancestors, the Royal baby may be quite old before getting a chance to rule over the United Kingdom. The child's great-grandmother has been queen for 60 years, and the great-great-grandmother lived to be 101.
England has now changed its rules so that the first-born child is the heir to the throne regardless of gender. So if Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton) have a girl, that girl would be the heir. Queen Elizabeth II became the heir because her father only had daughters.
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