How King Charles II’s line made it back into the Royal Family
The merry monarch King Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland, famously fathered many children. However, his Queen Catherine of Braganza suffered three miscarriages, and they had no surviving legitimate issue. So how did King Charles II’s line make it back into the British Royal Family?
Coincidentally, both of the Prince of Wales’s two wives were descendants of King Charles II through an illegitimate line.
The Duchess of Cornwall is a descendant of King Charles II through the youngest of his seven illegitimate sons, Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond. The line goes as follows:
King Charles II
Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond
Lady Anne Lennox
George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle
William Keppel, 4th Earl of Albemarle
George Thomas Keppel, 6th Earl of Albemarle
William Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle
Lieutenant-Colonel George Keppel
Sonia Keppel
The Hon. Rosalind Cubitt
The Duchess of Cornwall
In addition, the Prince of Wales’s first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, was also descended from King Charles II twice over and coincidentally also from his brother King James II. The lines go as follows:
King Charles II
Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton
Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton
Lady Isabella FitzRoy
Lord Hugh Seymour
Colonel Sir Horace Beauchamp Seymour
Adelaide Seymour
Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer
Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer
Diana, Princess of Wales
King Charles II
Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond
Lady Anne Lennox
Lady Elizabeth Keppel
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
Lady Louisa Jane Russell
James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn
Lady Cynthia Hamilton
John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer
Diana, Princess of Wales
Although King James II had several surviving legitimate children, including Queens Mary II and Anne, his legitimate line has died out. Through an illegitimate line, Diana is also a descendant of his.
King James II
Henrietta FitzJames
James Waldegrave, 1st Earl Waldegrave
James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave
Lady Anne Horatia Waldegrave
Colonel Sir Horace Beauchamp Seymour
Adelaide Seymour
Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer
Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer
Diana, Princess of Wales
When The Duke of Cambridge eventually becomes King, a descendant of King Charles II and King James II will, at last, sit upon the throne.
Sarah, Duchess of York, also brought the line of King Charles II back into the royal family via three of his illegitimate children: Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, and Anne Lennard, Countess of Sussex. The lines go as follows:
King Charles II
Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond
Lady Anne Lennox
Lady Elizabeth Keppel
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
Lady Louisa Jane Russell
Louisa Montagu Douglas Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch
Lord Herbert Montagu Douglas Scott
Marian Montagu Douglas Scott
Ronald Ferguson
Sarah, Duchess of York
King Charles II
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, Earl of Dalkeith
Francis Scott, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch
Francis Scott, Earl of Dalkeith
Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch
Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch
Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch
William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch
Lord Herbert Montagu Douglas Scott
Marian Montagu Douglas Scott
Ronald Ferguson
Sarah, Duchess of York
The line of Anne Lennard, Countess of Sussex, is disputed as she was recognised by several men.
King Charles II
Anne Lennard, Countess of Sussex
Anne Lennard, 16th Baroness Dacre
Gertrude Brand, 19th Baroness Dacre
Henry Trevor, 21st Baron Dacre
Henry Brand, 1st Viscount Hampden
Henry Brand, 2nd Viscount Hampden
Margaret Brand
Andrew Henry Ferguson
Ronald Ferguson
Sarah, Duchess of York
King Charles II’s line also crept back into through the sideline of the Dukes of Gloucester. Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, born Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott, was a descendant of King Charles’ eldest illegitimate son, James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth. Her son is the current Duke of Gloucester. The line goes as follows:
King Charles II
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, Earl of Dalkeith
Francis Scott, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch
Francis Scott, Earl of Dalkeith
Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch
Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch
Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch
William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch
John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
The post How King Charles II’s line made it back into the Royal Family appeared first on History of Royal Women.
