King Charles and US President Donald Trump are distantly related, sharing a common Scottish ancestor, according to new genealogical research. The discovery comes as the King and Queen Camilla prepare for a state visit to the US amid heightened transatlantic tensions over the Iran conflict.
The research, conducted on behalf of the Daily Mail, shows that both men descend from the 3rd Earl of Lennox, a great-grandson of King James II of Scotland. This makes them 15th cousins. The Earl of Lennox met a violent end in 1526 at the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge, killed by a rival laird known as the Bastard of Arran.
The Earl's son, the 4th Earl of Lennox, later fathered Lord Darnley, who married Mary, Queen of Scots. Their son became King James I of England and VI of Scotland, linking the lineage to the House of Windsor. Another line from the 3rd Earl, through his daughter Lady Helen, leads via the Mackay and MacLeod clans to Mary Anne MacLeod, who emigrated to the US in 1930 and married Fred Trump, father of Donald Trump.
President Trump has previously expressed admiration for the King, calling him a 'great guy' and a 'fighter' in an interview with royal author Robert Hardman. The genealogical link may further strengthen their relationship during the state visit.
