Lots of celebs are related to the royal family (Image: Getty)
Celebrities are quite often branded of the screen, but it turns out that some famous faces actually have royal links in real life.
It is thought that about two million people alive now are likely related to Edward I, who reigned from 1272 to 1307. And there are also millions of people who are likely related to Richard III, or at least related to his immediate family.
From current reigning royals, such as and , to those of times past, such as King James IV of Scotland, many celebs can say that they have a link.
Here’s some of the biggest, most surprising names that have royal blood running through their veins.
Madonna
Pop queen Madonna has links to Queen Camilla. According to website ancestry.co.uk, Madonna and England’s current Queen Camilla are both descended from the same French carpenter. They can both trace their history back to a man named Zacharie Cloutier, which makes Madonna and Queen Camilla 10th cousins.
Actor Hugh Grant unsurprisingly has royal links (Image: Getty)
Benedict Cumberbatch
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch once played the role of Richard III in ‘s Hollow Crown series – but it turns out that he also has a link to the monarch in real life. Cumberbatch is the king’s second cousin 16 times removed.
Kevin Schurer, a genealogist at the University of Leicester, previously told the Guardian: “In terms of number of generations, the shortest is via Richard’s mother Cecily Neville’s grandmother Joan Beaufort. He also has more indirect links to both Queen Elizabeth II and Lady Jane Grey through other ancestors in his tree.”
Angelina Jolie
The Maleficent actress is Queen Elizabeth’s 26th cousin, findmypast.com confirms. The royal relationship comes from Jolie’s mother, the late actress Marcheline Bertrand. Bertrand’s family history goes back to the 12th century and is also connected to the French King Phillip II.
Jolie’s connection to the royal family is through King Philip II of France, making her a 26th cousin of the Queen.”
Brad Pitt
It seems former power couple Brad and Angelina both had royal blood running through their veins – with Brad a bit more royal than his ex. According to Business Insider: “Pitt is slightly more royal (a 25th cousin, twice removed, of the Queen), according to FindMyPast.com. His common ancestor is Henry II, who ruled in the 12th century.”
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Former power couple Brad and Angelina are said to have royal links too (Image: Getty)
Hugh Grant
Heart throb Hugh Grant is also related to royalty, with connections to Queen Elizabeth II. The confirmed this connection, reporting that the Notting Hill actor’s royal blood can be traced all the way back to King Henry VII of England.
As a result of that tie, Grant is the ninth cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth. But Grant’s royal connections don’t end there. He is also descended from King James IV of Scotland.
Richard Gere
Richard Gere, known for his role in the movie Pretty Woman, is a distant relative of the late British Monarch. According to the website FamousKin, “Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, is a 14th cousin, four times removed, of Richard Gere.”
Meghan Markle
One surprising person with royalty in their heritage is Suits star – who actually married into the British royal family as she married . The actress was already distantly related to King Edward III before she married .
This means that her and the prince are 17th cousins. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were third cousins.