Albert II, Prince of Monaco

1.  Albert II, Prince of Monaco 1958-

2.  Rainier III, Prince of Monaco 1923-2005

3.  Grace Kelly 1929-82

4.  Pierre de Polignac 1895-1964

5.  Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois 1898-1977

6.  John Kelly 1889-60

7.  Margaret Maier 1899-1990

8.  Maxence de Polignac 1857-1936

9.  Suzanne de La Torre y Mier 1858-1913

10.  Louis II, Prince of Monaco 1870-1949

11.  Marie Louvet 1867-1930

12.  John Kelly 1847-97

13.  Mary Costello 1852-1926

14.  Karl Maier 1863-1922

15.  Margaretha Berg 1870-1949

16.  Charles Marie, Comte de Polignac 1824-81

17.  Josephine Lenormand de Morando 1828-83

18.  Isidro de La Torre y Carsi 1816-?

19.  Luisa de Mier y Celis 1830-?

20.  Albert I, Prince of Monaco 1848-1922

21.  Mary Douglas-Hamilton 1850-1922

22.  Jacques Louvet 1830-1910

23.  Josephine Piedefer 1828-71

24.  Brian Kelly 1804-89

25.  Honora McLaughlin 1821-84

26.  Walter Costello 1832-1910

27.  Anne Burke 1833-82

28.  Johann Maier 1837-85

29.  Luise Adam 1837-1904

30.  Georg Berg 1841-1908

31.  Elisabetha Rohrig 1843-86

Albert II, the richest monarch in Europe after Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein, has the most varied ancestry, and is the one monarch in Europe not at all closely related to the others.  His mother, Grace Kelly, was a Hollywood actress with Irish and German forebears.  His father, Prince Rainier, was the son of the legitimised princess Charlotte of Monaco, whose mother was the impoverished wife of an artist.  The Monegasque royal family, although the oldest continual house in Europe, is a remarkably barren one, and they generally married higher nobles rather than other royals.  Only through No 21, Mary Douglas-Hamilton, whose mother was a princess of Baden-Baden, can links to other royal families in Europe be found.  Of the fifth generation, three are French, three are Spanish, one is Monegasque, five are British, and four are German.  Only Queen Elizabeth II of England has as much British ancestry.  The average of the fifth generation (where known, for the death dates of two are unknown) is 62, lower than other ones we have seen, perhaps reflecting the lower social status of the Prince’s ancestors.

Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden

1. Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden 1946-

2. Gustav Adolf of Sweden 1906-47

3. Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 1908-72

4. Gustav VI Adolf, King of Sweden 1882-1973

5. Margaret of Connaught 1882-1920

6. Karl Eduard, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 1884-1954

7. Victoria Adelaide of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg 1885-1970

8. Gustav V, King of Sweden 1858-1950

9. VIctoria of Baden 1862-1930

10. Arthur, Duke of Connaught 1850-1942

11. Louise Margaret of Prussia 1860-1917

12. Leopold, Duke of Albany 1853-84

13. Helena of Waldeck-Pyrmont 1861-1922

14. Friedrich Ferdinand, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg 1855-1934

15. Karoline Mathilde of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg 1860-1932

16. Oscar II, King of Sweden 1829-1907

17. Sophia of Nassau 1836-1913

18. Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Baden 1826-1907

19. Louise of Prussia 1838-1923

20. Albrecht of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 1819-61

21. Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom 1819-1901

22. Friedrich Karl of Prussia 1828-85

23. Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau 1837-1906

24. Albrecht of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 1819-61

25. Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom 1819-1901

26. Georg Victor, Prince of Waldeck-Pyrmont 1831-93

27. Helena of Nassau 1831-88

28. Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg 1814-85

29. Adelheid of Schaumburg-Lippe 1821-99

30. Friedrich VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenberg 1829-80

31. Adelheid of Hohenlohe-Langenburg 1835-1900

20/21 and 24/25 are the same. 31 is the daughter of the half-sister of Queen Victoria. 28 is the brother of Christian IX of Denmark.

Of the fifth generation, 1 is Swedish, 13 are German, and 2 are British. The average age is 67. Many of the Swedish royals have reached ninety (the king’s father died in a ‘plane crash) so the present king can be expected to live a good while longer. The king of Sweden is the only monarch in Europe descended twice from Queen Victoria. His wife, Queen Sylvia, is the longest serving Queen Consort of Sweden.

Hans Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein

1.  Hans Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein 1945-

2.  Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein 1906-89

3.  Georgina von Wilczek 1921-89

4.  Aloys of Liechtenstein 1869-1955

5.  Elisabeth Amalie of Austria 1878-1960

6.  Ferdinand Maria, Count of Wilczek 1893-1977

7.  Norbertine Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau 1888-1923

8.  Alfred of Liechtenstein 1842-1907

9.  Henriette of Liechtenstein 1843-1931

10.  Karl Ludwig of Austria 1833-96

11.  Maria Teresa of Portugal 1855-1944

12.  Johann Nepomuk, Count of Wilczek 1861-1929

13.  Elisabeth Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau 1865-1941

14.  Oktavian Zdenko, Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau 1844-1932

15.  Georgina, Countess Festetics de Tolna 1856-1934

16.  Franz de Paula of Liechtenstein 1802-87

17.  Julia Eudoxia Potocka-Pilawa 1818-95

18.  Alois II, Prince of Liechtenstein 1796-1858

19.  Franziska Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau 1813-81

20.  Franz Karl of Austria 1802-78

21.  Sophie of Bavaria 1805-72

22.  Miguel I, King of Portugal 1802-66

23.  Adelheid of Lowenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg 1831-1909

24.  Johannes Nepomuk, Count of Wilzcek 1837-1922

25.  Emma Emo Capodilista 1833-1924

26.  Ferdinand, Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau 1834-1904

27.  Maria Josepha of Liechtenstein 1835-1905

28.  Johann, Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau 1815-68

29.  Iphigenie Dadanyi de Gyulvesz 1821-82

30.  Gyorgy Laszlo, Count Festetics de Tolna 1815-83

31.  Eugenia, Countess Erdody de Monyorokerek et Monoszlo 1826-94

The Prince of Liechtenstein, which is the last state in Europe which still practices the Salic Law (whereby females may not inherit), is descended mainly from central European nobility.  He is the richest monarch in Europe. Of the fifth generation, three are from Liechtenstein, one from Poland, five are from Austria, two are from Germany, one from Italy, one from Portugal, and three from Hungary.  The average age is 66.  Once again we see a long-lived daughter of Miguel, King of Portugal, and, once again, we also see that her descendants also lived long lives.

Jean, Grand Duke of Luxemburg

1.  Henri, Grand Duke of Luxemburg 1955-

2. Jean, Grand Duke of Luxemburg 1921-

3.  Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium 1927-2005

4. Felice of Bourbon-Parma 1893-1970

5. Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxemburg 1896-1985

6. Leopold III, King of Belgium 1901-83

7.Astrid of Sweden 1905-35

8. Roberto I, Duke of Parma 1848-1907

9. Maria Antonia of Portugal 1862-1959

10. Guillaume IV, Grand Duke of Luxemburg 1852-1912

11. Maria Ana of Portugal 1861-1942

12. Albert I, King of Portugal 1875-1934

13. Elisabeth of Bavaria 1876-1965

14. Carl of Sweden 1861-1951

15. Ingeborg of Denmark 1878-1958

16. Carlo III, Duke of Parma 1823-54

17. Marie-Therese d’Artois 1819-64

18. Miguel I, King of Portugal 1802-66

19. Adelheid of Lowenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg 1831-1909

20. Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxemburg 1817-1905

21. Adelheid Marie of Anhalt-Dessau 1833-1916

22. Miguel I, King of Portugal 1802-66

23. Adelheid of Lowenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg 1831-1909

24. Philippe, Count of Flanders 1837-1905

25. Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 1845-1912

26. Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria 1839-1909

27. Maria Josepha of Portugal 1857-1943

28. Oscar II, King of Sweden 1829-1907

29. Sophia of Nassau 1836-1913

30. Fredrik VIII, King of Denmark 1843-1912

31. Louise of Sweden 1851-1926

No18/19 and 22/23 are the same.

No 27 is daughter of 18/19 22/23

No 29 is half sister of No 20

No 31 is neice of No 28.

No 30 is son of Christian IX of Denmark.

Of the fifth generation, 1 is Italian, 1 is French, 3 are Portuguese, 6 are German, I is Luxembourgeois, 2 are Swedish, and 1 is Danish, 1 is Belgian.  The average age is  70.  Note that 2, 11, and 27 are all daughters of Miguel I of Portugal.  His daughters, and many of his grandchildren lived to great ages, often well into their nineties, and this has continued along the family lines.

Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands

1.  Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands 1967-

2.  Claus von Arnsberg 1926-2002

3.  Beatrix, Queen of the Netherlands 1938-

4.  Claus von Arnsberg 1890-1953

5.  Costa con dem Bussche-Haddenhausen 1902-96

6.  Bernhard of Lippe 1911-2004

7.  Juliana, Queen of the Netherlands 1909-2004

8.  Wilhelm von Arnsberg 1856-1929

9.  Elise von Vieregge 1866-1951

10. Georg von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen 1869-1923

11.  Gabrielle von dem Bussche-Ippenburg 1877-1973

12.  Bernhard of Lippe 1872-1934

13.  Armgard of Cramm 1883-1971

14.  Heinrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1876-1934

15.  Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands 1880-1962

16.  Gabriel von Arnsberg 1822-99

17.  Marie Friederike von Passow 1831-1904

18.  Leopold von Vieregge 1832-93

19.  Agnes von Gutschmid 1842-1927

20.  Julius von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen 1827-82

21.  Mathilde von Salviati 1834-92

22.  Eberhard von dem Bussche-Ippenburg 1851-1937

23.  Warinka von Chelius 1856-1949

24.  Ernst of Lippe-Biesterfeld 1842-1904

25.  Karoline of Wartensleben 1844-1905

26.  Aschwin of Sierstorpff-Cramm 1846-1909

27.  Hedwig of Sierstorpff-Driburg 1848-1900

28.  Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1823-83

29.  Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 1850-1922

30.  Willem III, King of the Netherlands 1817-90

31.  Emma of Waldeck-Pyrmont 1858-1934

Of the fifth generation, 1 is Dutch, and 15 are German, and one is a sovereign monarch.  The King of the Netherlands is not closely related to any other European monarch - in the late nineteenth century, the Dutch royal family almost died out, and WIlhelmina was the sole surviving offspring of her father, and herself only had one child.  No 28 also appears in the fifth generation of Margrethe II of Denmark.  WIllem-Alexander is the only monarch in Europe not descended from Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, or Christian IX of Denmark.  The average age of the fifth generation is 69 - but three of his grandparents lived into their nineties, so he has good genes.

Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark

The seize quartiers of Margrethe II are as follows:

1. Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark 1940-   

2. Fredrik IX, King of Denmark 1899-1972

3. Ingrid of Sweden 1910-2000

4.  Christian X, King of Denmark 1870-1947

5. Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1879-1952

6. Gustav VI Adolf, King of Sweden 1882-1973

7. Margaret of Connaught 1882-1920

8. Fredrik VIII, King of Denmark 1843-1912

9. Louise of Sweden 1851-1926

10. Friedrich Franz III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1851-97

11. Anastasia of Russia 1860-1922

12. Gustav V, King of Sweden 1858-1950

13. Victoria of Baden 1862-1930

14. Arthur, Duke of Connaught, 1850-1942

15.Louise Margaret of Prussia 1860-1917

16. Christian IX, King of Denmark 1818-1906

17. Louise of Hesse-Cassel 1817-98

18. Carl XV, King of Sweden 1826-72

19. Louise of the Netherlands 1828-72

20. Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1823-83

21. Augusta of Reuss-Kostritz 1822-62

22. Mikhail of Russia 1832-1909

23. Cecilie of Baden 1839-91

24. Oscar II, King of Sweden 1829-1907

25. Sophie of Nassau 1836-1913

26. Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Baden 1836-1907

27. Luise of Prussia 1838-1923

28. Albrecht of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 1819-61

29. Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom 1819-1901

30. Friedrich Karl of Prussia 1828-85

31. Maria Anna of Anhalt 1837-1906

The average age of the 2G-grandparents is 68.  Three of them are sovereign monarchs, and two are Grand Dukes.  11 are German, 2 are Swedish, 1 is Dutch, 1 is Russian, and 1 is British.  None are Danish!

18 and 24 are brothers.  23 and 26 are siblings.  The Dutch link is unusual – in the last hundred years or so, the Dutch royal house has been less well-connected to the other houses.  We shall look at the ancestry of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands next time.