Celebrities related to the royal family
https://www.womanandhome.com/life/news-entertainment/royal-celebrities-352453/
These celebrities might be the kings and queens of Hollywood, but they could actually have more in common with British royalty than we ever thought.
These celebrities have ruled over Hollywood for years, starring in all our favourite films or producing our top shower-singing anthems. They're instantly recognisable and the media is all over their every move, much like our royal family.
So it might come as no surprise to learn that some of them are actually related to the royals!
MORE: How does royal succession work – and who is next in line for the throne?
Like the big-time Hollywood director who’s related to the Duchess of Cambridge, or the A-list actor who’s related (by not too many cousins) to the queen.
We might not be seeing most of them around Buckingham Palace anytime soon, but their links to the royal family go way back into the medieval times.
These famous celebrities are related to the royal family...
Johnny Depp
How: Through King Edward III, Johnny Depp is the 20th cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.
GoodtoKnow Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
In 2011, an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? revealed that the Queen and Johnny Depp are related. One side of Johnny Depp's family is related to Sir William Gascoigne and his wife, Margaret Percy, who are direct descendants of King Edward VII. You might have to go back 500 years to find the royal link, but it's there.
Uma Thurman
How: Uma Thurman and the Queen are 21st cousins, once removed, through King Edward I.
King Edward I, who lived between 1239 to 1307, is the 19th great-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth. As Uma Thurman is also a direct descendent of the English king, the two are related.
Sophie Winkleman
How: Sophie is married to Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Queen Elizabeth's first cousin, Prince Michael of Kent.
If you're a fan of Channel 4's Peep Show, then this will be a big one for you. Sophie Winkleman, who plays Big Suze in the show, is married to a direct relation of Queen Elizabeth II. Sophie, or Lady Frederrick Winsor as she is also known, married Lord Frederick Windsor in 2009 and the couple have two children together.
Hilary Duff
How: Hilary Duff is the 18th cousin of Queen Elizabeth, according to a genealogy study.
The two are related through a man called Alexander Spotswood who lived from 1676 to 1740. He was the 10th great-grandson of Edward III, an officer in the British Army and the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.
Tom Hanks
How: Tom Hanks is a distant cousin of Queen Elizabeth.
The actor is a true member of the Hollywood dynasty, having starred in over 88 films. But he's one of the celebrities related to the royal family (very distantly), as he's the Queen's 24th cousin. It's through King John, who lived between 1199 to 1216, that the two are related.
Michael Douglas
How: Through King Edward III, Michael Douglas is the Queen's 19th cousin, once removed.
Michael Douglas comes from a long lineage of Hollywood royalty, with his father Kirk Douglas being one of the most famous faces of the 1950s. But he's related to English royalty too! Here he is greeting Princess Diana in 1988 at the premiere for film Wall Street.
King Edward III was one of England's longest ruling monarchs, Queen's great-grandfather 17 generations down and a direct ancestor of Michael Douglas.
Celine Dion
How: Celine Dion is the ninth cousin of the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles.
One of the Queens of Pop but this member of Hollywood royalty is also related to the English royal family, through an ancestor of the Duchess of Cornwall. According to the New England Historic Genealogical Society in the USA, Jean Guyon was one of the first French-Canadian settlers in Quebec.
He is famously related to three out of four people from Quebec and his descendants can be found all over the world - including in the royal family!
Madonna
How: Like Celine Dion, Madonna is related to Camilla Parker Bowles.
Madonna's maternal side is French-Canadian and can be traced back to Jean Guyon, just like Celine Dion and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Guy Richie
How: Guy Richie is the sixth cousin to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
The Hollywood director is related to the Duchess of Cambridge going back to shared ancestors who lived in the 1700s. But the two are actually quite close, with Guy attending Catherine's wedding to Prince William in 2011.
Hugh Grant
How: Through Henry VII, Hugh Grant is related to Queen Elizabeth II.
It will come as no surprise that this English gent is one of the celebrities related to the royal family, looking at his film roles. Hugh Grant is the ninth cousin of Queen Elizabeth and a direct relation to King Henry VII.
Jamie Lee Curtis
How: Actor Jamie Lee Curtis is married to Christopher Guest, who is a member of British nobility.
Although nobility isn't strictly the royal family, it's close enough! Christopher Guest's official title is 5th Baron Haden-Guest which makes Jamie Lee, Baroness Haden-Guest.
Angelina Jolie
How: Through her French heritage, Angelia Jolie's bloodline can be traced back to King Philip II.
Her connection to the son of Louis VII, King Philip II means that Angelina Jolie is 26th cousins to the Queen and the current royal Windsor family.
Ralph Fiennes
How: Ralph Fiennes is the eighth cousin of Charles, Prince of Wales.
The actor, most famous for playing Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise, is a direct relation to Prince Charles through King James II of Scotland, who ruled from 1437–1460.
Ellen Degeneres
How: The American talk-show host is related to Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.
The two are related through their ancestor Sir Thomas Fairfax, making them 15th cousins. Speaking to Hello Magazine in 2016, Ellen said that she wanted to start "hanging out" with her cousin and even offered to make a bath robe for Prince George!
George Bush
How: George Bush is an 11th cousin, once removed of Queen Elizabeth II.
The 43rd President of the United States is related to the Queen through an ancestor called Wolstone Childe, who lived in the 1600s.
Alec Baldwin
How: Going back one of the furthest, Alec Baldwin is related to the Queen through an ancestor who lived in 986.
Although it may be a long way down the line, Alec Baldwin is one of our celebrities related to the royal family. Alec Baldwin and Queen Elizabeth share an ancestor called Ethelred the Unready, making them 29th cousins.
With all these famous connections, who knows what A-lister could be turning up to the palace soon...
Grace Walsh is a health and wellbeing writer, working across the subjects of family, relationships, and LGBT topics, as well as sleep and mental health. A digital journalist with over six years experience as a writer and editor for UK publications, Grace is currently Health Editor for womanandhome.com and has also worked with Cosmopolitan, Red, The i Paper, GoodtoKnow, and more. After graduating from the University of Warwick, she started her career writing about the complexities of sex and relationships, before combining personal hobbies with professional and writing about fitness.
-
Who did Bluey have a baby with? Fan theories are running wild following the cartoon’s season 3 finale (our money is on Mackenzie)
The 'Surprise!’ episode has really done what it says on the tin - and many can’t get over the shock of Bluey having a baby
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Prince George, Charlotte and Louis are huge fans of this popular tinned food - and it’s not what you’d expect from the royals
Royal meal times are more similar to the average family's than you might imagine
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Does Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new family-friendly Netflix show mean we'll see more of Archie and Lilibet? We share everything we know
Royal fans are hoping to catch a glimpse of the youngsters
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Prince William and Kate Middleton planning to renovate family home as it only ‘just about fits the entire family’
The Waleses Windsor home Adelaide Cottage is about to get a new look
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Meghan Markle’s understandable parenting anxiety that means Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet likely won’t visit the UK next month
The Sussex family are meant to be visiting the UK next month, but 'anxiety' over their children's safety means the plans may yet change
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
The unexpected way King Charles made sure his son Prince William met Kate Middleton - and he could never have guessed how important the ‘fatherly’ advice would be
Without some stern advice from his father, Prince William may never have met his future wife
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
The sweet way Prince George, Charlotte and Louis are helping Kate Middleton through her recovery - and it proves they have inherited this important trait from their mum
The Wales children are keen to help their mum throughout her health struggles - and they're doing so in a way they've learnt from her
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Prince William and Kate Middleton are ‘enthusiastic’ about reconciling with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - and it’s all for the sake of their children
The Prince and Princess of Wales are reportedly keen to end the royal feud and connect with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Kate Middleton chose Prince Louis' school for a very specific reason (and it's why she loves it)
The school goes above and beyond to create a 'positive environment' for it's pupils
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William likely 'sugarcoated' cancer diagnosis for younger son Louis, the King's former butler says, but it was a little different for Prince George and Princess Charlotte
The Prince and Princess of Wales made sure to break the news in as 'positive' of a way as possible
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published