Royals Kate Middleton and Prince William have an unexpected genetic connection through Irish popstar Chris De Burgh, as revealed by genealogical research. It turns out that both the Prince and Princess of Wales are distantly related to the artist, and also to each other.
The singer, known for hits like “Lady in Red,” hails from County Wexford and has ancestral ties to both royal figures, with a portion of Kate’s family heritage originating from Ireland. While Kate’s connection to the de Burgh family has been known for some time, it is now discovered that Prince William shares this distant familial bond.
Chris De Burgh also has a historical link to Princess Diana, as the late Princess was seen attending a public event alongside the singer, where she christened a Virgin Airbus as ‘Lady in Red.’
Furthermore, research by genealogists reveals that both royals can trace their ancestry back to King Edward III and Queen Philippa of Hainault. Philippa, besides being a queen, also served as regent in 1346 during Edward’s absence while he was engaged in the Hundred Years’ War.
Their lineage continues through their son, Lionel of Antwerp, who wed Irish heiress Elizabeth de Burgh, Countess of Ulster. Centuries later, Agnes Gascoigne, a descendant of this union, married Sir Thomas Fairfax, a notable landowner and military figure from the time of Henry VIII.
William’s lineage stems from their son Sir Nicholas Fairfax, while Kate’s lineage comes from his younger sibling William, making them fourteenth cousins.
The discovery of the royal family connection to Chris De Burgh dates back to 2013. Commenting on this revelation, the singer, who is married with three children, expressed surprise at the distant association between the de Burgh family and the Middletons, suggesting that there may be more such connections waiting to be uncovered.
Patrick Cracroft-Brennan, editor of Cracroft’s Peerage, highlighted the intricate familial connections of Kate and William to historical figures like Sir William Gascoigne, emphasizing their shared ancestry with Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
In a peculiar twist, it was also revealed that William’s brother Harry shares a distant familial relationship with his wife Meghan Markle. The couple’s family tree shows ties to a man named Ralph Bowes, born in 1480, connecting them as 15th cousins.
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