Queen Elizabeth to Princess Diana: 5 British royal brides who married distant relatives (apparently)
- Marrying in the bloodline is still surprisingly common: both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were third cousins
- William and Kate are 14th cousins, Charles and Diana were 16th cousins, and even Harry and Meghan share a 15th century relative – according to some experts, anyway
In essence, royal institutions are an extreme form of family business, and – while it might not be that unusual to think up historical royals who married within their own bloodline – it may surprise some readers that some modern-day members of the British family have kept up the centuries-old tradition.
Here are a few contemporary royals who married their own relatives – no matter how distant.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
Interestingly, though, that isn’t the only family connection. The couple, who were married for 73 years before Philip’s passing, also share a common ancestor in King Christian IX of Denmark. He was the queen’s great-great-grandfather and Philip’s great-grandfather!
Prince Charles and Princess Diana
When Lady Diana Spencer walked down the aisle to wed her prince, not many people realised that she was actually being bonded in matrimony to a distant relative of hers. Prince Charles, heir to the throne, and his first wife were actually 16th cousins once removed. The two share a common heredity to King Henry VII.