How King Charles II’s line made it back into the Royal Family

The merry monarch King Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland, famously fathered many children. However, his Queen Catherine of Braganza suffered three miscarriages, and they had no surviving legitimate issue. So how did King Charles II’s line make it back into the British Royal Family?

Coincidentally, both of King Charles III’s two wives were descendants of King Charles II through an illegitimate line.

Queen Camilla is a descendant of King Charles II through the youngest of his seven illegitimate sons, Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond. The line goes as follows:

1. King Charles II
2. Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond
3. Lady Anne Lennox
4. George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle
5. William Keppel, 4th Earl of Albemarle
6. George Thomas Keppel, 6th Earl of Albemarle
7. William Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle
8. Lieutenant-Colonel George Keppel
9. Sonia Keppel
10. The Hon. Rosalind Cubitt
11. The Duchess of Cornwall

In addition, King Charles III’s first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, was also descended from King Charles II twice over and coincidentally also from his brother King James II. The lines go as follows:

1. King Charles II
2. Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton
3. Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton
4. Lady Isabella FitzRoy
5. Lord Hugh Seymour
6. Colonel Sir Horace Beauchamp Seymour
7. Adelaide Seymour
8. Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer
9. Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
10. John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer
11. Diana, Princess of Wales

1. King Charles II
2. Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond
3. Lady Anne Lennox
4. Lady Elizabeth Keppel
5. John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
6. Lady Louisa Jane Russell
7. James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn
8. James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn
9. Lady Cynthia Hamilton
10. John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer
11. Diana, Princess of Wales

Although King James II had several surviving legitimate children, including Queens Mary II and Anne, his legitimate line has died out. Through an illegitimate line, Diana is also a descendant of his.

1. King James II
2. Henrietta FitzJames
3. James Waldegrave, 1st Earl Waldegrave
4. James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave
5. Lady Anne Horatia Waldegrave
6. Colonel Sir Horace Beauchamp Seymour
7. Adelaide Seymour
8. Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer
9. Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
10. John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer
11. Diana, Princess of Wales

When The Prince of Wales eventually becomes King, a descendant of King Charles II and King James II will, at last, sit upon the throne.

Sarah, Duchess of York, also brought the line of King Charles II back into the royal family via three of his illegitimate children: Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, and Anne Lennard, Countess of Sussex. The lines go as follows:

1. King Charles II
2. Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond
3. Lady Anne Lennox
4. Lady Elizabeth Keppel
5. John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
6. Lady Louisa Jane Russell
7. Louisa Montagu Douglas Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch
8. Lord Herbert Montagu Douglas Scott
9. Marian Montagu Douglas Scott
10. Ronald Ferguson
11. Sarah, Duchess of York

1. King Charles II
2. James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
3. James Scott, Earl of Dalkeith
4. Francis Scott, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch
5. Francis Scott, Earl of Dalkeith
6. Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch
7. Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch
8. Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch
9. William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch
10. Lord Herbert Montagu Douglas Scott
11. Marian Montagu Douglas Scott
12. Ronald Ferguson
13. Sarah, Duchess of York

The line of Anne Lennard, Countess of Sussex, is disputed as she was recognised by several men.

1. King Charles II
2. Anne Lennard, Countess of Sussex
3. Anne Lennard, 16th Baroness Dacre
4. Gertrude Brand, 19th Baroness Dacre
5. Henry Trevor, 21st Baron Dacre
6. Henry Brand, 1st Viscount Hampden
7. Henry Brand, 2nd Viscount Hampden
8. Margaret Brand
9. Andrew Henry Ferguson
10. Ronald Ferguson
11. Sarah, Duchess of York

King Charles II’s line also crept back in through the sideline of the Dukes of Gloucester. Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, born Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott, was a descendant of King Charles’ eldest illegitimate son, James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth. Her son is the current Duke of Gloucester. The line goes as follows:

1. King Charles II
2. James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
3. James Scott, Earl of Dalkeith
4. Francis Scott, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch
5. Francis Scott, Earl of Dalkeith
6. Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch
7. Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch
8. Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch
9. William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch
10. John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch
11. Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
12. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester