An exclusive men-only club in London is set to welcome women as members for the first time in its 193-year history.
The Garrick Club, which boasts members including King Charles, Stephen Fry, and Sting, looks set to allow women after 60 percent of its 1,500 members answered in favour of the change following a two-hour debate.
Previously, women were only allowed to enter the Covent Garden venue if they were accompanied by a man.
According to The Telegraph, people speaking in favour of the change included comedian Fry, news reader James Naughtie, historian Jonathan Sumption, and actor Nigel Havers.
The club’s membership list, which also included Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gov as well as entertainment figures including Sting, Benedict Cumberbatch and the actor Brian Cox, was published in the Guardian earlier this year.
It led to several high profile judges as well as MI6 head Sir Richard Moore and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case resigning their membership.
The Garrick Club has repeatedly blocked attempts to allow women to join since the 1960s.
But David Pannick KC, who spearheaded the Brexit Article 50 case against the government, concluded nothing in the rulebook actually said they were banned.
He said: “In our view, the language of the rules is clear. There is no prohibition on the admission of female members.”
Pannick however concluded language was geared towards men, although he conluded this is “entirely within the ordinary use of English language that a reference to the masculine denotes the feminine unless the context otherwise requires”.
Theatre director Jude Kelly had previously spoken of feeling “humiliated” when she entered the club. She said: “These clubs were created as places for people who were given superior privileges.
“This is not the same as having an all-girls picnic or a boys-only cricket club. This is a place that sustained male power.”
Seven women – including former Cabinet minister Amber Rudd, Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman and the classicist Mary Beard – have been proposed to become the first female members.
Although it is unclear whether they will actually join.
ntirely within the ordinary use of English language that a reference to the masculine denotes the feminine unless the context otherwise requires”.
