The Spanish royal family is indeed related to Queen Elizabeth II. King Felipe VI of Spain, who is currently reigning, is a distant cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. The connection between the two royal families can be traced back to their common ancestor, Queen Victoria.
To understand the relationship, we need to go back a few generations. King Felipe’s father, the former King Juan Carlos, is the son of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona. Infante Juan was the son of Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, who was Queen Victoria’s granddaughter.
Queen Victoria had nine children, and her descendants went on to marry into various European royal families. One of her daughters, Princess Victoria, married into the Prussian royal family and had a daughter named Victoria Eugenie. Victoria Eugenie went on to marry King Alfonso XIII of Spain, becoming the Queen consort of Spain.
Victoria Eugenie and King Alfonso XIII had several children, including Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona. Infante Juan was the father of King Juan Carlos, making him King Felipe’s grandfather. Thus, King Felipe is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria through his paternal lineage.
On the other hand, Queen Elizabeth II is also a descendant of Queen Victoria. Her father, King George VI, was the son of King George V and Queen Mary. Queen Mary was the daughter of Princess Mary of Teck, who was the daughter of Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. Princess Mary Adelaide was the daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, who was the son of King George III. Going back further, King George III was the grandson of King George II, who was the son of King George I. King George I was the great-great-grandson of Sophia of Hanover, who was the granddaughter of James VI and I.
Therefore, both King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Elizabeth II are descendants of Queen Victoria, making them distant cousins. While the relationship may not be close, it highlights the interconnectedness of European royal families and their shared ancestry.
It is worth noting that the Spanish royal family has faced numerous challenges and changes throughout history, including the abdication of King Juan Carlos and the ascension of King Felipe VI. These events have brought the Spanish royal family into the international spotlight and increased interest in their lineage and connections with other royal families.