So it turns out there’s more to a celebrity than meets the eye, with EastEnders’ Danny Dyer being linked to real-life royalty.
Who would have thought that our favorite Cockney actor would have such royal connections?
And he’s not the only one either.
Huntress Anne Hegerty recently opened up about her royal heritage and is actually the Queen’s 19th cousin – perhaps that’s why she has so much inside knowledge.
And as we inch ever closer to the Queen’s long weekend of Platinum Jubilee celebrations, we take a look at a range of celebrities who have ties to royalty…
Danny Dyer
(Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
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There’s a plethora of royal connections for London lad Danny Dyer, so many in fact that he’s gone on to film Danny Dyer’s royal family.
He is a direct descendant of King Edward III, his 22-times great-grandfather, and is also the 30th grandson of William the Conqueror.
In an episode of Who Do You Think You Area, Danny also discovered his ancestral connection to Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s adviser, and English soldier Sir John Seymour.
Hilary Duf
(Image: Getty)
Hilary Duff has been called “America’s most royal celebrity” because she is closer to Queen Elizabeth II than any other American in Hollywood.
They are 18th cousins through Alexander Spotswood, the 10th great-grandson of King Edward III.
Beyonce
(Image: Getty)
It’s actually not really a surprise when you think about it, because of course Queen B herself is truly related to royalty.
I mean, the connection is a little weak but it’s still closer than we’ll ever get – Beyoncé is Queen Elizabeth II’s 25th cousin once removed, related somewhere along biological lines through Henry II.
Anne Hegerty
(Picture: ITV)
Anne Hegerty of The Chase revealed her royal heritage during an appearance on Good Morning Britain.
The TV personality is the Queen’s 19th cousin, having been ‘split in the 14th century, we are both descended from the first King Stuart of Scotland, Robert II’.
Ellen Degeneres
(Image: theellenshow/Instagram)
Talk show host Ellen Degeneres is, wait for it, a distant cousin of the future Queen of England, Kate Middleton.
They are related by a family connection through Sir Thomas Fairfax.
Dakota and Ella Fanning
(Image: Getty)
True direct descendants of King Edward III, actresses Dakota and Elle Fanning are the 22nd great-granddaughters of King Edward III.
Now there is a claim to fame!
Ralph Fiennes
(Picture: PA)
The man, the myth, the award-winning “he-who-must-not-be-named” actor that is Ralph Fiennes can trace his family line directly to James II of Scotland.
He is, in fact, the eighth cousin of Prince Charles.
Tilda Swinton
(Image: Splash)
The iconic actress is a direct descendant of Scottish King Robert the Bruce, who freed Scotland from English rule by winning the decisive Battle of Bannockburn in the 14th century.
Ozzy Osbourne
(Image: Wenn)
Ozzy Osbourne has ties to Russia’s last czar!
Paris Hilton
(Image: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)
Ah, it wouldn’t be nice without a touch of Paris Hilton along the way.
The American socialite found out she was Queen Elizabeth II’s 20th cousin after taking a DNA test!
Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal
(Image: Getty)
The Hollywood siblings are a bit closer to royalty than Paris Hilton.
They are the 19th cousins of Queen Elizabeth II, whose lineage dates back to King Edward III, who reigned from 1327 to 1377.
Bill Hader
(Image: Getty)
Trainwreck actor Bill Hader has traced his ancestry to a Holy Roman Emperor.
And not just anyone, but Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor in 800 who succeeded in unifying the Germanic people into one kingdom.
He also helped spread Christianity to the regions he conquered.
Upon discovering this on an episode of the TV show Finding Your Roots, Hader said, “I mean, the conqueror of Europe? I couldn’t even get the coffee maker to work this morning.”
Pretty cool, indeed.
Benedict Cumberbatch
(Image: Getty)
Benedict Cumberbatch played his ancestor Richard III in The Hollow Crown.
The king is his second cousin who died 16 times away.
Catherine Oxenberg
American actress Catherine Oxenberg doesn’t have to be anyone’s 20th cousin… She’s actually the daughter of a princess.
She was born to Prince Paul and Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia.
If being legitimately royal isn’t already enough, the actress has also portrayed Princess Diana twice, in The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana (1982) and Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After (1992).
The list could go on and on, with royal celebrities such as Sigourney Weaver, Madonna, Celine Dion and even British idol Hugh Grant.
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