The British royal family is one of the most famous and influential dynasties in the world. But did you know that they are also related to many other European monarchs, including the current King of Spain, Felipe VI? In this article, we will explore the fascinating connections between these two royal houses and how they share a common ancestry that goes back centuries.
Contents
The Victorian Connection
One of the most obvious links between King Felipe and Queen Elizabeth is their descent from Queen Victoria, who reigned over the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901. Queen Victoria had nine children, who married into various royal families across Europe. She is often called the “grandmother of Europe” because of her numerous descendants.
King Felipe is a great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria through his father, King Juan Carlos I, who abdicated in 2014. Juan Carlos is the son of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, who was the son of Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg. Victoria Eugenie was the daughter of Princess Beatrice, who was Queen Victoria’s youngest child.
Queen Elizabeth is a great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through her father, King George VI, who died in 1952. George VI was the son of King George V, who was the son of King Edward VII. Edward VII was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert.
This means that King Felipe and Queen Elizabeth are third cousins, twice removed. They share a common ancestor in Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert.
The Danish Dimension
Another source of kinship between King Felipe and Queen Elizabeth is their descent from King Christian IX of Denmark, who reigned from 1863 to 1906. He was also a prolific progenitor of European royalty and is sometimes called the “father-in-law of Europe” because of his six children who married into different royal houses.
King Felipe is a great-great-grandson of King Christian IX through his mother, Queen Sofia, who was born Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark. Sofia is the daughter of King Paul of Greece, who was the son of King Constantine I of Greece. Constantine I was the son of George I of Greece, who was the second son of King Christian IX.
Queen Elizabeth is also a great-great-granddaughter of King Christian IX through her mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who died in 2002. She was born Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and was the daughter of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Claude was the son of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. He was the son of Frances Dora Smith, who was the daughter of Louisa Jane Hamilton. Louisa Jane was the daughter of Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, who was the daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge. Prince Adolphus was the seventh son of King George III and his wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Charlotte was the sister of Louise Caroline, Princess Royal. Louise Caroline married Frederick VI, King of Denmark and Norway. Frederick VI was the son of Christian VII, King of Denmark and Norway. Christian VII was the son of Frederick V, King of Denmark and Norway. Frederick V was the son of Louise, Queen Consort of Denmark and Norway. Louise was the daughter of George II, King Great Britain and Ireland. George II was the son of George I, King Great Britain and Ireland. George I was the son of Sophia, Elector of Hanover. Sophia was the daughter of Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia. Elizabeth Stuart was the daughter of James VI and I, King of Scotland, England, and Ireland. James VI and I was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary, Queen of Scots, was the granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, Queen Consort of Scotland. Margaret Tudor was the daughter of Henry VII, King of England. Henry VII was the father of Henry VIII, King of England. Henry VIII was the father of Elizabeth I, Queen of England. Elizabeth I was the cousin of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary, Queen of Scots, was the mother of James VI and I, King of Scotland, England, and Ireland. James VI and I was the father of Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia. Elizabeth Stuart was the mother of Sophia, Elector of Hanover. Sophia was the mother of George I, King Great Britain and Ireland. George I was the father of George II, King Great Britain and Ireland. George II was the father of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge. Prince Adolphus was the father of Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. Mary Adelaide was the mother of Louisa Jane Hamilton. Louisa Jane was the mother of Frances Dora Smith. Frances Dora was the mother of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Claude Bowes-Lyon was the father of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Claude Bowes-Lyon was the father of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was the mother of Queen Elizabeth II.
This means that King Felipe and Queen Elizabeth are also third cousins, twice removed. They share a common ancestor in King Christian IX and his wife, Louise of Hesse-Kassel.
The Windsor-Mountbatten Connection
A third way of tracing the relationship between King Felipe and Queen Elizabeth is through their descent from Prince Louis of Battenberg, who was born in 1854 and died in 1921. He was a German prince who became a British citizen and changed his surname to Mountbatten during World War I. He was also the maternal grandfather of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
King Felipe is a great-grandson of Prince Louis of Battenberg through his father, King Juan Carlos I. Juan Carlos is the son of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, who was the son of Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg. Victoria Eugenie was the daughter of Princess Beatrice, who was the daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Princess Beatrice was also the mother of Prince Alexander of Battenberg, who was the father of Prince Louis of Battenberg.
Queen Elizabeth is a granddaughter of Prince Louis of Battenberg through her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who died in 2021. Philip was the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, who was the son of Prince George of Greece and Denmark. Prince George was the son of Olga Constantinovna of Russia, who was the daughter of Grand Duchess Alexandra Georgievna of Russia. Grand Duchess Alexandra was the daughter of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia, who was the son of Nicholas I, Emperor of Russia. Nicholas I was the son of Paul I, Emperor of Russia. Paul I was the son of Catherine II, Empress of Russia. Catherine II was the wife of Peter III, Emperor of Russia. Peter III was the grandson of Peter I, Emperor of Russia. Peter I was the father of Anna, Empress of Russia. Anna was the mother of Anna Leopoldovna, Regent of Russia. Anna Leopoldovna was the mother of Ivan VI, Emperor of Russia. Ivan VI was the cousin of Peter III, Emperor of Russia. Peter III was the husband of Catherine II, Empress of Russia. Catherine II was the mother of Paul I, Emperor of Russia. Paul I was the father of Nicholas I, Emperor of Russia. Nicholas I was the father of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia. Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich was the father of Grand Duchess Alexandra Georgievna of Russia. Grand Duchess Alexandra Georgievna was the mother of Olga Constantinovna of Russia. Olga Constantinovna was the mother of Prince George of Greece and Denmark. Prince George was the father of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. Prince Andrew was the father of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Philip, Duke
of Edinburgh, was
the husband
of Queen Elizabeth II.
This means that King Felipe and Queen Elizabeth are also second cousins, once removed. They share a common ancestor in Prince Louis of Battenberg and his wife, Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine.
Conclusion
As we have seen, King Felipe and Queen Elizabeth are related in multiple ways through their royal ancestors. They are both descendants of Queen Victoria, King Christian IX, and Prince Louis of Battenberg. They are also distant cousins through other European monarchs, such as James VI and I, Frederick V, King Christian VII, Catherine II, and Nicholas I.
The royal family tree is a complex and fascinating web that connects many historical figures and events. It shows how the British and Spanish royal houses have influenced each other and the world for centuries. It also reveals how King Felipe and Queen Elizabeth are not only allies but also relatives.
