Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump and King Charles III are distant cousins through a shared lineage dating back to a 16th-century Scottish nobleman, according to genealogical research highlighted by royal biographer Robert Hardman.
The findings trace both men to the 3rd Earl of Lennox, a descendant of James II of Scotland, making Trump and Charles approximately 15th cousins. The earl was killed in 1526 during a political power struggle tied to the reign of James V of Scotland.
“Wow, that’s nice. I’ve always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace!!! I’ll talk to the King and Queen about this in a few minutes!!!” the president posted to Truth Social alongside the story on Tuesday.
From there, the royal lineage continued through Lord Darnley and Mary, Queen of Scots, whose son became James I of England, linking the line to the modern British monarchy.
President Trump’s connection follows a different branch through Scottish nobility, eventually reaching his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, who emigrated from Scotland to the United States in 1930 and later married Fred Trump.
Researchers said the family tree also connects Trump to European royal houses in Norway, Sweden and Denmark through descent from Christian I of Denmark.
The discovery comes as President Trump and Charles have recently met during a state visit in Washington, part of events marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence. Despite political tensions between the United States and the United Kingdom in recent months, both sides have emphasized continued cooperation.
President Trump has previously spoken positively about the British royal family, including his relationship with Elizabeth II, whom he hosted during a state visit in 2019.
The shared ancestry also carries historical irony. Through the same royal line, President Trump is related to George III, the monarch whose rule over the American colonies ended with the Revolutionary War, an event the United States will commemorate with its 250th anniversary.
