Not Just Hollywood Royalty: These Celebs Are Related to British Kings and Queens
While many of us dream about what it would be like to be royalty, few actually experience it. Still, a look at one's family tree may prove roots to those who reigned in generations past.
Though they may be a few degrees removed, these celebs can indeed claim they're related to British royalty.
Johnny Depp
A look through Johnny Depp's family tree shows he may share distant ancestry with Queen Elizabeth II.
According to research by genealogist Dr. Nick Barratt, the "Pirates of the Carribbean" actor shares lineage with Her Majesty, though they're not exactly spending holidays together. Depp, Barratt says, is 20th cousins with the Queen.
Other celebs who hold distant familial links to the current British Royal Family include Ellen DeGeneres who's apparently 15th cousins with Kate Middleton and Robert Pattinson, who is a distant cousin of princes William and Harry.
Brad Pitt
Red carpet-ready good looks apparently ru! n in the family of King Henry II, who ruled England from 1154 through 1189. Through his mother's side of the family, perpetual Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt is connected to the king, a strong character who ruled over vast parts of France as well as England.
But that's not all. Notorious socialite and paparazzi target Paris Hilton is also believed to be related to Henry II through her father, Rick.
Pitt's better half Angelina Jolie, meanwhile, is believed to have an ancestral link to King Phillip II of France, through her mother. But we already considered her and Brad one of Hollywood's royal couples, right?
Brooke Shields
It took an episode of the TV show "Who Do You Think You Are?" for Brooke Shields to realize just how royal her family tree really is. While she knew she had links to Italian aristocracy, she learned through the series that she is also related to both English and French royalty.
Shields is directly related to English King Henry IV and to a cousin of King Louis XIV of France.
Barack Obama
While President Barack Obama holds perhaps the most powerful role in the world, his ancestors were no slouches when it came to taking on leadership positions. Obama is believed to have roots back to King Edward I of England, a renowned patron of the arts who had Westminster Abbey rebuilt and studied languages and the sciences (such as they were at the time).
He is also related to King William the Lion of Scotland, as well as Brian Boru, who ruled Ireland from 1002 until 1014 and ! who will be celebrated there on the 1,000th anniversary of his death at the Battle of Clontarf.
Actress Uma Thurman also counts King Edward I of England among her ancestors, through her father's family tree.
Ellen DeGeneres
In addition to her link to the Duchess of Cambridge, DeGeneres is believed to be a direct descendant of King Edward III, who reigned from 1327 until his death in 1377 and is noted for his military success in England.
Movie star siblings Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal also count themselves among descendants of Edward III. They're believed to be linked through their father, who is also a descendent of the Swedish noble Gyllenhaal family.
Other celebs who count King Edward III among their ancestors include Hilary Duff, Michael Douglas and Laura Dern, as well as film legends Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. Now wouldn't that be one heck of a Royal Family portrait?
by Chris Majeski
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