Expert: Mark Smith - 5/19/2008

Question
Mark, can you please tell me how Charles and Camilla come to be 9th. cousins once removed? Everyone says they are but nobody seems to know the common ancestor/s.

Answer
Hello Dorothy.
Charles and Camilla have a common ancestor in Henry Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne who died in 1691. They are both descended ten generations from him; Charles through his 3rd daughter Margaret and Camilla through his 4th daughter Catherine.
Charles' lineage is :
Charles, Prince of Wales, son of
Queen Elizabeth II, daughter of
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (nee Bowes-Lyon), died 2002, daughter of
Nina Bowes-Lyon, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorn (nee Cavendish-Bentinck), died 1938, daughter of
Charles Cavendish-Bentinck, died 1865, son of
Lord William Cavendish-Bentinck, died 1826, son of
William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, died 1809, son of
Margaret Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland (nee Harley) died 1785, daughter of
Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford (nee Holles) died 1755, daughter of
Margaret Holles, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (nee Cavendish) died 1716, daughter of
Henry Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, died 1691.

Camilla's lineage is :
Camilla Parker-Bowles (nee Shand) daughter of
Rosalind Shand (nee Cubitt) died 1994, daughter of
Sonia Cubitt, Baroness Ashcombe (nee Keppel) died 1986, daughter of
Lord George Keppel, died 1947, son of
William Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle, died 1894, son of
George Keppel, 6th Earl of Albemarle, died 1891, son of
Elizabeth Keppel, Countess of Albemarle (nee Southwell), died 1817, daughter of
Edward Southwell, Baron Clifford, died 1777, son of
Catherine Southwell (nee Watson) died 1765, daughter of
Catherine Watson, Viscountess Sondes (nee Cavendish), died 1734, daughter of
Henry Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, died 1691.