BOSTON: Prince Harry’s bride-to-be Meghan Markle may be a princess after all.
A researcher at the Boston-based New England Historic Genealogical Society , one of the world’s premier genealogical organizations, said on Thursday that Markle is a direct descendant of England’s King Edward III, and she and Harry are 17th cousins. Edward III ruled from 1327 until 1377.
Royal experts have said that the 36-year-old Markle will not formally be known as Princess Meghan because she is not of royal birth.
Genealogist Gary Boyd Roberts says Markle’s royal lineage comes through an early immigrant to Boston, the Rev. William Skipper, who arrived in New England in 1639. He is an ancestor of Markle’s father.
Markle is also related to eight American presidents and dozens of other notable Americans, including actors James Dean and Roy Rogers.
Markle’s future noble ranking partly depends on what titles Queen Elizabeth II gives her and Harry on their May wedding day.
Markle, 36, will become Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales when she marries Harry, whose proper first name is Henry.
The speculation is that the queen will make Harry a duke, like his brother William, and Markle a duchess when they wed at Windsor Castle. In that case, Markle would properly be known as a duchess, not a princess.
“It’s wrong to call a royal duchess ‘princess’ unless she’s already a princess,” royal historian Hugo Vickers said.
“But they can do what they like. I’m sure the press will call her Princess Meghan. I just hope they don’t abbreviate it to Princess Megs.”
Many royal observers think the queen will make the newlyweds the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, one of the few remaining “dukedoms” that is available.
Genealogist: Meghan Markle descended from English king
Genealogist: Meghan Markle descended from English king
