For her latest book Hampshire author Coryne Hall looks at King Charles III’s descent from the Romanovs

King Charles Romanov Ancestry: A Direct Line from Tsar Michael Romanov

A Royal Line Connecting Britain and Russia

King Charles Romanov ancestry traces back over 400 years to the Russian tsars. On 11th July 1613, 16-year-old Michael Romanov was crowned tsar of Russia. Over four centuries later, on 6th May 2023, King Charles III was crowned in Westminster Abbey. These two monarchs are linked by eleven generations of direct descent.

Many people know King Charles is a descendant of Queen Victoria. However, few realise he is also the first British monarch with a direct bloodline to the Romanov emperors who ruled Russia from 1613 to 1917.

Prince Philip’s Role in King Charles Romanov Ancestry

King Charles Romanov ancestry comes through his father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, his ancestry runs through the Greek royal family, which itself descended from the Romanovs. This direct lineage leads all the way back to Michael Romanov, the founder of Russia’s last imperial dynasty.

Shared Interests in the Romanov Ancestry of King Charles

The king shares several passions with his Romanov ancestors. Like Catherine the Great, he is a devoted patron of the arts. His naval service echoes that of his Russian great-great-grandfather Grand Duke Constantine, who helped strengthen the imperial fleet. Charles’ interest in architecture and botany mirrors the tastes of earlier Romanovs, including the wife of Emperor Paul, a keen gardener and amateur botanist.

A Personal Link to the Last Romanovs

Through his grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, King Charles also has a connection to the last Romanovs. Princess Alice’s mother, Princess Victoria of Hesse, was the sister of Empress Alexandra, wife of Tsar Nicholas II. This made Alexandra and Nicholas the great-great aunt and uncle of Charles.

In 1993, Prince Philip’s DNA played a key role in confirming the identity of the Romanovs’ remains, discovered near Ekaterinburg decades after their 1918 execution.

The People Behind the Romanov Bloodline

“This story isn’t just about the Romanov dynasty,” says royal historian Coryne. “It’s about the real people who link Michael Romanov to King Charles. Some were Russian, others Greek or German. Some ruled vast empires; others played quieter roles behind the scenes.”

About the Author

Coryne is the author of Little Mother of Russia, Once a Grand Duchess (with John Van der Kiste), and Queen Victoria and the Romanovs. A frequent contributor to Majesty magazine, she has lectured across the UK and abroad and was the last person granted a private audience with Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

From Romanov to Windsor. King Charles III’s Romanov Blood is published by Amberley Publishing, Stroud, on 15th August.

To read more about the book, click here. To read more on round and about, click here.

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