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Are You Related to British Royalty?

It’s a question that nearly everyone asks at least once: “Do I have royal blood?”

If you have British ancestors, there’s a chance that
you could have royalty somewhere in your bloodline. Dive into your family tree,
and you may find proof of what you’ve always known deep down—you are royalty!

Even if you aren’t technically connected to the royal family tree, you’ll find a rich supply of information on your family roots along the way. Here’s how to hunt for the royal lines in your family tree.

The Royal Family Tree

With centuries of information on British royal
family trees, historical records might reveal royal names in your family tree.
Start looking in your current family tree, and trace your family
further back with the help of historical records. 

Here are some resources to help you get started
as you try to discover your royal connections: 

The English Royal Family Tree

A string of kings and queens have ruled England since the late 880s. Before then, England included seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Alfred the Great, who was King of Wessex, negotiated a treaty in 886 that extended his rule to areas of West Mercia and Kent. By the 890s, he was called the “king of the English.”

a graphic showing the history of british monarchs

Despite the title, Alfred the Great never ruled the eastern and northern regions of modern England. Alfred’s sons Edward the Elder and Æthelstan conquered the remaining kingdoms to unify England. In AD 924, Æthelstan was the first king to rule a united England. He is often regarded as the first true king of England.

Since Æthelstan’s reign, multiple houses have ruled England. 

The British Royal Family Tree

a painting of queen victoria and the royal family

Starting in 1603, England and Scotland were ruled in a personal union under the Scottish House of Stuart. The two countries were legally merged in 1707, forming the Kingdom of Great Britain. Since then, 12 monarchs have ruled Great Britain.

While all 12 monarchs since 1707 have been related, there have been three main ruling houses. The first, the House of Stuart, ended with Queen Anne in 1714, who outlived all five of her children. Her second cousin King George I succeeded to the throne as a member of the House of Hanover.

The House of Hanover remained in power for six monarchs from 1714 to 1901. When Edward VII took the throne, he represented his father’s house rather than his mother’s (Queen Victoria), introducing the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the throne. This house was later renamed the “House of Windsor,” and it is currently the house in power.

the family tree of Queen Elizabeth II.

Are You Related to Royalty?

To find out if your family has royal ties, compare
your family tree with the royal family tree. If you find any surnames in
common, try to find a connection by comparing historical documents. Even if you
don’t find a verifiable connection, you’ll gain an invaluable connection to
your ancestors along the way.

Source: Family Search

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