Celebs Who Are Secretly Royal

Many famous faces in Hollywood possess genealogical connections that extend far beyond the silver screen and into the halls of European royalty. These stars often share ancestors with monarchs like King Edward III or King Henry II through complex family trees mapped by genealogists. While some actors are aware of their blue blooded heritage others discover their noble ties through television programs focused on ancestry. This intersection of celebrity culture and royal lineage reveals how interconnected global histories remain through the centuries.

Kit Harington

The ‘Game of Thrones’ star possesses a direct link to the British monarchy through his paternal grandmother. He is a descendant of King Charles II who ruled during the seventeenth century. His family tree also includes figures like Sir James John Harington who held a baronetcy in England. This noble background provides the actor with a historical connection to the very throne his characters often fight for on screen.

Rose Leslie

The actress grew up in Lickleyhead Castle in Scotland which has been in her family for centuries. She is a descendant of King Charles II through her mother and has ties to the Clan Leslie. Her father is the chieftain of the Aberdeenshire branch of the family. This upbringing in an ancestral home mirrors the highborn roles she has played in various period dramas.

Benedict Cumberbatch

The ‘Sherlock’ lead is a third cousin sixteen times removed of King Richard III. He actually read a poem at the reburial of the monarch in Leicester Cathedral after the remains were discovered in a car park. Genealogists have confirmed that the actor shares a common ancestor with the ill fated king. This connection adds a layer of historical significance to his career as a prominent British performer.

Tilda Swinton

This Academy Award winner can trace her ancestry back to the ancient Scottish nobility. She is a member of the Swinton family which is one of only three families in Great Britain that can trace its land ownership back to the time before the Norman Conquest. Her lineage includes various knights and political figures who served the Scottish crown. She often portrays ethereal characters that reflect her own distinguished and historic background.

Ralph Fiennes

The actor known for his roles in the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise is a distant cousin of King Charles III. He shares an ancestor with the current British monarch through the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne. His family history is filled with noble figures and individuals of significant historical standing in the United Kingdom. This prestigious heritage is a common trait among many established English actors of his generation.

Hugh Grant

The ‘Notting Hill’ star is a descendant of King Henry VII through various branches of his family tree. His lineage includes notable figures like the Earls of Nottingham and the Marquises of Atholl. Genealogists have noted that his ancestry makes him a distant cousin of many current members of the British royal family. He has joked about his posh background throughout his long career in romantic comedies and dramas.

Jake Gyllenhaal

The star of ‘Nightcrawler’ is a descendant of King Edward III of England. His family history connects him to the noble Gyllenhaal family of Sweden which holds a title of nobility in that country. This dual royal connection spanning two different European nations highlights the extensive reach of his family roots. He and his sister share this distinguished lineage that dates back centuries.

Maggie Gyllenhaal

As the sister of Jake Gyllenhaal this actress also shares a direct lineage to King Edward III. Her ancestry includes members of the Swedish nobility on her father’s side and artistic roots on her mother’s side. This combination of royal blood and creative heritage has defined her place in the entertainment industry. She continues to find success in both independent films and major studio productions while carrying a historic family name.

Hilary Duff

The ‘Lizzie McGuire’ star has been labeled the most royal celebrity in America by some genealogical researchers. She is the eighteenth cousin of Queen Elizabeth II through her ancestor Alexander Groves. Her lineage traces back to King Edward III and other prominent members of the British aristocracy. This surprising connection makes her a member of a broad network of distant relatives to the British throne.

Brooke Shields

The actress and model possesses a remarkably high concentration of royal blood in her family tree. She is the eighteenth cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II and shares ancestors with the French royal family. Her lineage includes links to King Henry IV of France and several Italian noble houses. This extensive heritage makes her one of the most well documented celebrities with royal connections in the world.

Ellen DeGeneres

The former talk show host is a distant cousin of Catherine Princess of Wales. They are both descendants of Sir Thomas Fairfax and his wife Agnes Gascoigne who lived in the fifteenth century. This connection makes the comedian a fifteenth cousin to the future Queen Consort of the United Kingdom. She has often discussed this surprising fact during her monologues and interviews.

Tom Hanks

The beloved ‘Forrest Gump’ actor is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Their common ancestor is King John of England who is famous for signing the Magna Carta. This makes the performer a twenty fourth cousin to many members of the current royal family. He is also related to several American presidents through his extensive and well researched family tree.

Angelina Jolie

The ‘Maleficent’ actress is linked to the French royalty through her late mother Marcheline Bertrand. She is a descendant of King Philip II of France who ruled in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. This lineage provides her with a connection to the ancient Capetian dynasty that shaped European history. Her humanitarian work and global presence reflect the high profile nature of her ancestral background.

Brad Pitt

The ‘Fight Club’ actor is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II through his family roots in England. His ancestry includes ties to King Henry II who ruled England during the twelfth century. This makes him a twenty fifth cousin twice removed to the current British monarch. His family history is a testament to the deep connections many Americans share with the British Isles.

Johnny Depp

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star is a twentieth cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. He shares a common ancestor with the British royals through his family branches that lived in Virginia during the colonial era. Genealogists have traced his lineage back to King Edward III of England. This connection was first highlighted during a deep dive into the actor’s complex family history by researchers.

Céline Dion

The legendary singer is a distant cousin of both Madonna and Camilla Queen Consort of the United Kingdom. They all share common ancestors from the early settlers of Quebec in the seventeenth century. Her lineage includes Zacharie Cloutier who is a patriarch to many famous individuals with French Canadian roots. This genealogical web connects the powerhouse vocalist to both pop royalty and actual British royalty.

Madonna

The Queen of Pop shares a distant ancestor with Camilla Queen Consort through her French Canadian heritage. Both women are descended from a prominent seventeenth century carpenter named Zacharie Cloutier. This makes the singer a ninth cousin once removed to the current Queen Consort of the United Kingdom. Her bold career and lasting influence on culture parallel the storied histories of her distant relatives.

Beyoncé

The superstar singer is the twenty fifth cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her ancestry includes links to King Henry II of England through her maternal lineage. This connection highlights the diverse and far reaching roots of the performer who is often referred to as Queen Bey by her fans. Her genealogical background underscores the historical intersections found within her family tree.

Guy Ritchie

The director of ‘The Gentlemen’ is a sixth cousin of the Prince of Wales. He shares a common ancestor with the British royal family through his lineage in the United Kingdom. He was even a guest at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011. His films often explore the contrasts between the British working class and the upper crust of society.

Richard Gere

The ‘Pretty Woman’ star is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. His ancestry includes connections to various members of the British aristocracy and landowning families. He shares common roots with several American figures and historical leaders throughout the centuries. This link to the British crown is a subtle part of his overall public persona as a veteran Hollywood actor.

Kyra Sedgwick

The actress known for ‘The Closer’ has roots that trace back to the earliest days of American and British history. She is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II and is related to several influential political figures. Her family tree includes the prominent Sedgwick family which has produced judges and leaders for generations. This distinguished background has been a subject of interest in various genealogy based television shows.

Glenn Close

The ‘Fatal Attraction’ actress is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II and various other European nobles. Her family has been prominent in the United States since the colonial period and has maintained ties to British lineage. She shares ancestors with several American presidents and historical figures who shaped the nation. Her commanding screen presence often reflects the dignity associated with her highborn roots.

Edward Norton

The ‘Glass Onion’ actor recently discovered that he is a descendant of the historical figure Pocahontas. He also has ancestral ties that link him to the British royal family through his colonial American roots. Genealogists have identified him as a distant cousin of the current members of the House of Windsor. This revelation adds to the rich personal history of one of Hollywood’s most respected performers.

Robert Pattinson

The star of ‘The Batman’ is a distant cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry. He is related to the British royals through the Pickering family who lived in the north of England hundreds of years ago. This connection makes the actor a distant relative of the future King of the United Kingdom. His career has taken him from teen idol to serious dramatic actor with a secret royal pedigree.

Helena Bonham Carter

The actress is widely known for her distinguished family tree which includes many members of the British elite. She is the great granddaughter of former Prime Minister H.H. Asquith and is related to several peers of the realm. Her lineage connects her to various aristocratic families that have served the crown for generations. She famously played Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in the film ‘The King’s Speech’ which mirrors her own heritage.

Paris Hilton

The media personality and entrepreneur is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her ancestry on her father’s side links her to King Henry II of England through many generations. This makes her a twentieth cousin of the former British monarch. Her public persona as a socialite and business mogul aligns with her deep roots in established high society.

Dakota Fanning

The star of ‘The Alienist’ is the twenty second great granddaughter of King Edward III. Her lineage traces through the Fanning and Arrington lines back to the English throne. This makes her a distant cousin to Catherine Princess of Wales through their shared royal ancestors. She has enjoyed a long career in the spotlight since her childhood days as a talented actress.

Elle Fanning

As the younger sister of Dakota Fanning she also shares the same direct descent from King Edward III. Her royal pedigree was confirmed by researchers who traced her family history back nearly seven hundred years. This connection makes her a member of a historical lineage that includes some of the most powerful rulers in English history. She often appears in films that highlight her classic beauty and sophisticated acting style.

Bill Hader

The creator and star of ‘Barry’ discovered his royal roots on a genealogy television show. He is a descendant of King Edward I and King Charlemagne through his maternal lineage. This news came as a shock to the comedian who previously knew little about his ancient European ancestry. The discovery revealed that his family history is intertwined with some of the most influential monarchs in Western history.

Anderson Cooper

The journalist and news anchor is a member of the famous Vanderbilt family of New York. His mother Gloria Vanderbilt was a descendant of the business magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt who built a massive railroad empire. Through his Vanderbilt lineage he also has distant connections to European nobility and the British royal family. This combination of American industrial royalty and European blue blood defines his unique social standing.

Laura Dern

The ‘Big Little Lies’ actress is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her family tree includes various figures from the British and American aristocracy who were influential in their respective eras. She is part of a Hollywood dynasty that features her parents Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd. Her noble connections add to the prestige of her successful career in television and film.

Elizabeth Olsen

The ‘WandaVision’ star shares a distant royal connection through her family roots in the United Kingdom. She is a cousin of the British royal family through ancestors who lived in Northern Europe and England. This lineage is shared with her sisters Mary Kate and Ashley who also rose to fame at a young age. Her sophisticated performances often draw praise for their depth and intelligence.

Uma Thurman

The ‘Kill Bill’ actress is a descendant of King Edward I of England through her family branches in Europe. Her mother was a model and a noblewoman from the von Schlebrügge family in Germany. This background provides her with a lineage that includes knights and members of the Swedish nobility. Her striking appearance and commanding presence on screen are consistent with her distinguished heritage.

Sigourney Weaver

The ‘Alien’ actress has a family history that connects her to the British aristocracy. Her father was the president of NBC and her mother was an actress with ties to English social circles. She is a distant relative of several historical figures who served the British crown. Her long and storied career in Hollywood has been marked by her portrayal of strong and influential characters.

Jane Seymour

The actress famously shares her name with the third wife of King Henry VIII. She is actually a distant relative of the historical Jane Seymour through her family branches in England. This connection to the Tudor era is a point of pride for the actress who has had a legendary career in television and film. Her noble background is reflected in the many period pieces she has starred in over the years.

Olivia Wilde

The ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ director and actress comes from a family of prominent journalists and intellectuals with noble ties. Her family tree includes several members of the British peerage and individuals with high social standing in the United Kingdom. She is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II through her aristocratic roots. This heritage has provided her with a unique perspective on fame and public life.

Cary Elwes

The ‘The Princess Bride’ star has a pedigree that is truly fitting for his most famous role. He is a descendant of various members of the British nobility and can trace his lineage back to historical figures of significant influence. His family includes prominent painters and socialites who were well known in English society. This background adds a layer of authenticity to his many portrayals of charming and noble characters.

Armie Hammer

The ‘The Social Network’ actor is a descendant of the oil tycoon Armand Hammer and has ties to the Russian nobility. His family history is filled with individuals who held great wealth and political power across several continents. He is also a distant cousin of the British royal family through his paternal lineage. This blend of industrial success and noble blood has shaped his family’s high profile identity.

Allison Janney

The Academy Award winner is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her family tree includes various branches that trace back to the English aristocracy and colonial American leaders. This connection makes her part of a wide network of celebrities with secret royal ties. Her versatility as an actress has made her one of the most respected figures in the entertainment industry today.

Gwyneth Paltrow

The ‘Iron Man’ actress and lifestyle entrepreneur has roots that connect her to the British royal family. She is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II through her family branches in the United Kingdom. Her father was a successful producer and her mother is a famous actress which further cements her place in Hollywood royalty. Her genealogical ties highlight the long history of her family’s influence in the arts and society.

Reese Witherspoon

The ‘The Morning Show’ actress is a descendant of John Witherspoon who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Her ancestry also includes ties to the British royal family through various historical lineages. She is a distant cousin of the current members of the House of Windsor. This combination of American revolutionary history and British noble blood makes her family tree particularly unique.

Julia Roberts

The ‘Pretty Woman’ star has a family history that links her to the British monarchy through distant ancestors. Genealogists have identified her as a cousin of several members of the royal family. Her lineage includes various figures from the American South who have roots in the United Kingdom. Her enduring popularity in Hollywood is matched by the deep and interesting roots of her family tree.

Meryl Streep

The most nominated actress in Oscar history is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her ancestry includes ties to the British and Dutch nobility through various branches of her family tree. This connection makes her a member of a group of elite performers who share a lineage with European monarchs. Her exceptional talent and career longevity are as remarkable as her storied family history.

George Clooney

The ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ star is a distant cousin of Abraham Lincoln and has ties to the British royal family. His family history traces back to the United Kingdom where his ancestors were involved in various historical events. This makes him a distant relative of several current members of the British monarchy. His public presence and humanitarian efforts often reflect his family’s long history of leadership and influence.

Taylor Swift

The global pop icon is a distant cousin of the famous American poet Emily Dickinson and also has royal ties. Her lineage connects her to the British royal family through several branches of her family tree that originated in England. Genealogists have noted that she shares ancestors with many prominent figures in Western history. Her massive impact on the music industry is the latest chapter in a very successful family story.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Before she became the Duchess of Sussex this actress was already a distant cousin of Prince Harry. Genealogists discovered that she is a descendant of King Edward III through her father’s side of the family. This makes her and her husband distant cousins who share a common English ancestor from many centuries ago. Her journey from Hollywood star to a prominent member of the royal family is a unique story in modern history.

Audrey Hepburn

The legendary star of ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ was born into the Dutch nobility. Her mother was Baroness Ella van Heemstra who came from a prominent family with ties to various European royal houses. Her father also had connections to the British aristocracy and other noble lineages. This highborn background influenced her grace and style which made her a global icon of elegance.

Grace Kelly

The Academy Award winning actress was born into a wealthy family in Philadelphia with distant ties to European noble lineages. She eventually became true royalty when she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956. This transition from Hollywood star to Princess of Monaco made her a global symbol of elegance and diplomatic grace. Her family tree includes several figures with distinguished backgrounds in both business and public service.

Christopher Lee

The legendary ‘Lord of the Rings’ actor had a family history that was deeply rooted in European nobility. He was a descendant of the Carandini family of Italy which is one of the oldest noble houses in Europe. He was also a distant cousin of the British royal family and several other historical figures. His commanding presence and deep voice were perfectly suited for the many aristocratic and powerful roles he played throughout his long career.

Miranda Hart

The British comedian and star of ‘Miranda’ has a family tree that includes many members of the English aristocracy. She is a descendant of various barons and individuals who held significant political offices throughout history. Her lineage connects her to the upper echelons of British society which often serves as a source of humor in her work. This aristocratic background provides a striking contrast to her self deprecating comedic persona.

Share your favorite celebrity with surprising royal connections in the comments.