Celebrities with Royal Family Ties You Didn’t Know About

It might come as a surprise that quite a few Hollywood celebrities have connections to none other than royalty! And interesting connections don’t end on cinema darlings, of course, – many musicians and politicians are also tied to medieval nobility in ways we don’t even suspect. But who among your favorite celebrities is related to the royal family? Let’s find out!

 

In this article, we’ll dive into the lineages of many celebrities from all walks of life and see if anyone is actually directly related to, say, a British monarch!

What Does It Mean to Have Royal Family Blood?

For the purposes of this article, having royal family blood means that a person is descended from a member of a royal family – it doesn’t matter if that connection goes back hundreds of years or is more recent.

 

On top of that, it doesn’t always mean a direct link to a king or queen; celebrities with royal blood can also be through lesser-known members of royalty, such as dukes, duchesses, or aristocratic families with royal ties.

How Do Celebrities Discover Their Royal Ties?

Celebrities who have royal blood will need to do extensive genealogical research (or have someone do it from them) to confirm if they are actually related to any royalty. This research would help them fill in the blanks on the family tree and present them with an overview of their entire lineage.

 

On that note, perhaps, you also would like to create your family tree. With Treemily, it’s very simple!

 

All you need is to create a free account, choose your preferred family tree layout, and put in some basic information about your loved ones.

 

Don’t be put off by the amount of effort it may take to have all of them listed – it is really quick and simple! And don’t forget to add pictures of each of the family members as well as some facts about them!

 

Once you’re done, you can export it to a stunningly looking PDF or even have it printed on paper of the size of your choosing.

 

Excited to embark on your first genealogical adventure? Feel free to find out more useful guidance in our “how to make a family tree” manual!

Hollywood Celebrities with Royal Blood

Angelina Jolie

 

Angelina Jolie, in addition to her stellar acting career, can boast an interesting genealogical tie to European royalty. It’s believed that Jolie is a direct descendant of Philip II of France (12th century) through her mother’s side of the family.

Hilary Duff

 

Hilary Duff, the former Disney Channel star, has a surprisingly direct royal connection – she is an 18th-generation descendant of King Edward III of England. Through this lineage, she also shares distant ties with Queen Elizabeth II, although, of course, many generations separate them.

Brooke Shields

 

Brooke Shields, the famous actress and model, is connected to several royal families across Europe. One of her more notable connections is through her maternal lineage, which links her to King Henry IV of France.

Brad Pitt

 

Brad Pitt’s royal roots are more up for debate – although genealogists have linked him to Henry II of England, who ruled in the 12th century, the evidence is largely inconclusive.

Uma Thurman

 

Interestingly enough, through her father, Thurman has connections to Scandinavian royalty, including King Edward I of England and Harald Bluetooth, a Viking king of Denmark.

Bob Odenkirk

 

Comedian and actor Bob Odenkirk is linked to royal bloodlines in a more surprising way. Genealogists have traced his lineage back to Charlemagne, the 8th-century ruler who is considered one of the founding figures of European royalty.

Musicians with Royal Family Relations

Beyoncé

 

Beyoncé, one of the world’s biggest music icons, is also reported to be one of the celebrities with royal blood. Through her Louisiana Creole origin, genealogists have traced her lineage to the French royal family – specifically, Beyoncé is said to be a distant relative of King Louis XIV of France.

Madonna

 

The pop queen is known to be related to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, which makes her a distant cousin of Prince Charles. It is believed that this connection comes through French-Canadian ancestors who eventually made their way to the United States.

Meghan Markle

 

Meghan Markle’s inclusion in this list may not be what you think. Although she did become a royal by marrying Prince Harry, she already had distant ties to the royal family, as her paternal lineage can be traced back to King Edward III of England.

British Royals and Their Celebrity Cousins

Hugh Grant

 

The ever-charming Hugh Grant is a distant cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. This surprising tie comes from his mother’s family, who are believed to have been related to Scottish and English nobility.

Benedict Cumberbatch

 

Benedict Cumberbatch is known to be related to Richard III, the English king famously depicted in Shakespeare’s play. What makes the situation even more interesting is that Cumberbatch portrayed Richard III in a television series, bringing the two even closer.

Guy Ritchie

 

The famous filmmaker Guy Ritchie is distantly related to the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Their shared ancestry can be traced back to noble families in the 18th century, also making Ritchie a distant cousin of Prince William.

Ralph Fiennes

 

Ralph Fiennes is a direct descendant of King James II of Scotland, making him part of a long line of Scottish nobility. What sets him apart from most other celebrities who have royal blood, his aristocratic roots have actually been well-documented, adding to his distinguished profile.

Politicians Turned Celebrities with Royal Connections

Donald Trump

 

The family tree of Donald Trump wouldn’t be complete without links to royal bloodlines through his Scottish heritage. Specifically, Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born in Scotland, and has been linked to the Scottish royalty of centuries past.

George W. Bush

 

George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, is believed to share a distant connection to Queen Elizabeth II through a common ancestor. This link comes from English settlers who migrated to America in the 17th century.

Winston Churchill

 

Winston Churchill, one of Britain’s most famous prime ministers, was a direct descendant of John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, and had ties to both English and European royalty. Just like in Ralph Fiennes’ case, Churchill’s aristocratic background was well-known, and it undoubtedly influenced his position in British society.

Conclusion

It turns out there are quite a few celebrities that are related to the royal family, whether they are distantly related to European kings and queens or share ties with contemporary royals. Either way, they all made or are making sure that their family legacy lives on, with their achievements in cinema, music, politics, and beyond.

 

And would you like to see your legacy preserved and passed from generation to generation? Treemily can help you!

 

You can create amazing family charts in our family tree builder in just a couple of steps!

 

Create a free account, choose your preferred tree layout, and put in the information about your family. Once you’re done, you can export it to a stunningly looking PDF or have it printed on paper of the size of your choosing. Let’s go!

FAQs

How Can I Find out if I Have Royal Ancestry Like Celebrities?

Genealogy websites and DNA testing services can help trace your family history. You have to dig through piles of historical records and possibly even hire a professional genealogist – but it could be all worth it.

Are Royal Family Ties Common in Hollywood?

Yes, surprisingly so. Due to the vast and interconnected nature of European aristocracy, many people, including American celebrities, are believed to have distant royal ancestors.

Which Celebrity Has the Closest Ties to Royalty?

It depends on what we define as “closest”, but in terms of directness, Hilary Duff is a worthy candidate – she is a direct 18th-generation descendant of King Edward III of England.

How Do Genealogists Trace Celebrity Royal Connections?

For this purpose, genealogists typically use historical records, such as birth certificates, marriage records, or even DNA testing.

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