Is the Royal Family technically inbred?

Answer 1

There have been several consanguinous marriages, producing children, but they are often second cousins, or more distant.

Answer 2

Only in the sense that all royal families in Europe intermarried for many centuries. The Brits in general are somewhat "inbred" (that's not really the right word), because the United Kingdom is a small island nation. All the British are distant cousins of one another and all are descended from royalty. It's been estimated, in fact, that every single person of British ancestry is at least a descendant of the 14th-century King Edward III, who had many children and granchildren. But the British royals are no more "inbred" than other European royal families have been and are probably significantly less so than some. Moreover, developments in the 20th century and more recently changed matters hugely, as the British royals stopped marrying other royals and looked further afield for spouses.

Answer 3

If you're talking about the UK royal family, Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth are third cousins, as they're both descendants of Queen Victoria.

Other royal families may indeed have cosanguinous marriages. For example, it's quite common for many of the royal families of the Gulf (Al Maktoum of Dubai, Al Saud (Saudi Arabia), Al Thani (Qatar) are a few examples) where the ruler is married to his first cousin. It keeps wealth in the family.

Answer 4

Well, not really ... even though many of those in the "colonies" (the U.S.A.) think that.

Queen Victoria was called the "Grandmama" of the Royal Houses of Europe.

And in the past most of the Royalty married other blue-bloods. But not close cousins usually.

I mean that wideness helps show Her Majesty's descent from many of the Ancient Royal Families.

And consider the Scots lineage of the late Queen Mother.

Answer 5

The royal families of Europe have been swapping genetic material for centuries. Prince Phillip is a cousin of the queen, even thouth he's Greek. All you have to do is look at them and you can pick out the features that have resulted from inbreeding.

Answer 6

Inbreeding? hmm this would require to marry a cousin(1st cousin) or a sibling. If you are a 2nd cousin or futher down the line it is exceptable. Just as here in the states it is legal to marry your second cousin because there is enough distance in the genes to make sure there is no birth defects to a child if one comes to be. I mean come on we are all some way or the other connect to everyone in the world.

Answer 7

The UK Royal Family is absolutely inbred - they are required to marry a royal cousin (or stay unmarried) if they want to get to the throne.

Answer 8

If you are referring to current british royalty, yes, in the past they were, currently, not so much. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are third cousins with Queen Victoria (who married her first cousin) being their great-great-grandmother.

Answer 9

Allowing for the gene pool, we are all inbred.

Answer 10

no they are very well aware of the inbreeding problem. The husband of the /queen is from a different country