How Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Are Related
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, were distantly related through several European royal lines. They shared common ancestors from the houses of Denmark, Greece, and Germany, making them third cousins once removed through Queen Victoria's descendants.
Key Ancestral Connections
Both descended from Queen Victoria and King Christian IX of Denmark. Philip's mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, and Elizabeth's father, King George VI, were related through the same small circle of 19th-century European royalty. Their marriage linked existing branches of the extended family rather than creating a new bloodline.
Marriage and the Royal Line
Elizabeth became queen in 1952 while Philip took the title of prince consort. Their shared ancestry was documented in genealogical records and discussed by historians. For more details on their family tree, see the official Royal Collection Trust page Royal Collection Trust.
