One of Britain's leading newspapers challenged the role of the monarchy today promising to back a legal challenge to the 300-year-old law banning Roman Catholics and other non-Protestants from succeeding to the British throne.

The Guardian claims that the Act of Settlement, adopted in 1701, breaches the Human Rights Act and should be "reinterpreted or removed from the statute book" completely.

This is serious stuff that could rock the constitution of the United Kingdom and undermine the very foundation of its socio-political system.

Furthermore, the issue goes to the very heart of the democratic process in Britain and has unimaginable consequences - regardless on which side of the fence people stand on such an important matter.

Such is the importance of this subject, the Guardian opened the debate to the readers of its award-winning online publication, Guardian Unlimited.

As of 16:02 GMT, the "Monarchy debate" had attracted 90 submissions - just three behind that other important Guardian Unlimited Debate on "shaving advice" and how to avoid that "a horrific zitty rash". ®