Yes, Camilla, Queen Consort, and Diana, Princess of Wales, were distantly related through a shared royal ancestor.
Their familial connection traces back several centuries to King Charles II (1630–1685), who reigned over England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1660 until his death. Both women were descendants of King Charles II through various illegitimate lines, meaning they were related through his children born outside of marriage.
It is important to note that this distant relationship had no connection to Diana's mother's second marriage. The shared ancestry is purely through the historical lineage stemming from King Charles II.
Understanding the Connection
The concept of shared ancestry from a common historical figure can be illustrated as follows:
- Common Ancestor: King Charles II (1630–1685)
- Lineage to Diana: Diana, Princess of Wales, descended from one of King Charles II's illegitimate children.
- Lineage to Camilla: Camilla, Queen Consort, also descended from a different illegitimate child of King Charles II.
This type of distant relationship is not uncommon among aristocratic families in Britain, where intermarriage over centuries can lead to complex and often surprising familial ties across various prominent households. Interestingly, Sarah, Duchess of York, also shares this common ancestry through illegitimate lines from King Charles II.
