King Charles III is a direct descendant of Vlad the Impaler, the 15th-century Romanian ruler who inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. The monarch is the great-grandson 16 times removed of Vlad III Dracula, also known as Vlad Tepes, through Queen Mary, consort of George V, according to genealogical records in The British Chronicles by David Hughes.
Charles discovered his connection to the infamous prince during his first visit to Transylvania in 1998. Since then, he has developed a strong affinity for the region, owning several properties in Viscri, the Zalanului Valley, Malancrav, and Breb. These properties, including a former judge's house in the Zalanului Valley that once belonged to his ancestor Bálint Kálnoky, are now available as holiday cottages for tourists.
Through the Prince of Wales Foundation, Charles has undertaken charity work in Transylvania focusing on sustainable development, conservation, and farming. The mayor of Alba Iulia has proposed granting him the title of Prince of Transylvania in recognition of his role as a prominent ambassador for the region.
Vlad the Impaler, known for his brutal tactics including impaling thousands of enemies, left a field of victims after a battle in 1462. Charles's link to Vlad is also traced through his late mother Queen Elizabeth II's great-great-grandmother, Hungarian Countess Klaudia Rhedey, who was born and raised in Transylvania in the 19th century.
