Although it’s well-known the couple are distantly-related to each other, it’s now been uncovered that they also share a famous singer as a relative, thanks to new genealogical findings
13:52, 03 Jan 2026Updated 13:52, 03 Jan 2026
Kate Middleton and Prince William both share an Irish popstar relative
Royals Kate Middleton and her husband Prince William are linked genetically by an unlikely Irish popstar. Genealogical research has found that both the Prince and Princess of Wales are related to artist Chris De Burgh – as well as each other.
The Lady in Red singer, who grew up in County Wexford, has links to both the royals, with part of Kate’s family descending from Ireland long ago. And while it’s been known for years that mother-of-three Kate has links to the de Burghs, the Prince of Wales is now also believed to be part of the distant family tree.
Chris de Burgh met William’s mother Diana numerous times(Image: Rex Features)READ MORE: Inside Kate Middleton’s new ‘spiritual’ perspective amid ongoing Prince Harry feud
Chris de Burgh also has links with William’s late mother, Princess Diana, who appeared at a public engagement with the singer. She attended alongside de Burgh as she named a Virgin Airbus ‘Lady In Red’.
Meanwhile, genealogists have uncovered that both royals trace their roots back to King Edward III and his queen, Philippa of Hainault. Not content with ruling, Philippa also acted as regent in 1346 while Edward was off fighting in the Hundred Years’ War.
Their son, Lionel of Antwerp, married Irish heiress Elizabeth de Burgh, Countess of Ulster. Fast forward a few centuries, and Agnes Gascoigne, a great-great-great-great-great granddaughter, married Sir Thomas Fairfax.
He was a landowner who fought alongside Henry VIII. The couple lived at Gilling Castle in Yorkshire and had six sons and six daughters.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are distant relatives(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
William descends from their son Sir Nicholas Fairfax, while Kate comes from his younger brother William this makes them fourteenth cousins.
The news of de Burgh’s royal family link was first uncovered in 2013. The singer, who is married to wife Diane and has three kids, said at the time: “I was unaware that there is a distant connection between the de Burgh family and the Middletons.
“There are probably many others also connected to both families. At least that will give us something to talk about should we ever have a cup of tea together.”
Chris de Burgh’s mum was Maeve Emily de Burgh, daughter of General Sir Eric de Burgh, a British army officer who became chief of the general staff in India. They are not directly descended from Edward III but share his daughter-in-law’s surname.
Patrick Cracroft-Brennan, editor of the online reference work Cracroft’s Peerage, told Channel 4 news previously: “Her great-great-grandmother, Frances Elizabeth Greenhow, was the 10 x great-granddaughter of Sir William Gascoigne, a Yorkshire knight who died in 1487. He married Lady Margaret Percy, 4th and youngest daughter of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland.
“The Earl descended from King Edward III through both his parents. Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana both descend from Sir William Gascoigne and his wife Lady Margaret. This makes William and Kate fourteenth cousins once removed through his mother and fifteenth cousins through his father.”
Meanwhile, in a bizarre twist, William’s brother Harry is also related to his wife, Meghan Markle. In their family tree, the Mail also uncovered that the couple share distant relations with a man name Ralph Bowes, who was born in 1480. With links to Meghan’s father and a loose connection to the Royal Family, teh paper found that Harry and Markle are also 15th cousins.
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