Meghan Markle: Not the First Non-British Member of the British Royal Family

Many are under the impression that Meghan Markle is the first non-British member of the British royal family. To clarify, this is far from the truth. In fact, the British royal lineage has a rich history of including members from varied backgrounds, with several non-British royal family members throughout the centuries.

A Closer Look at Non-British Royal Lineage

Throughout our history, many of the English monarchs married foreigners. These foreign spouses brought in their own royal bloodlines to the family tree. For example, Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, a German prince, and Queen Elizabeth II married Philip Mountbatten (later Duke of Edinburgh), whose lineage includes both Greek and Danish royal blood. These marriages into foreign royalty were not uncommon during the era when it was customary for royal families to intermarry.

Additionally, several members of the British royal family have had ties to other countries, either through their spouse or themselves. Some notable examples include:

Queen Alexandra: She was Danish, born Alexandra of Denmark, and served as the Queen consort to King Edward VII. Princess Marina: She was a Princess of Greece and Denmark, married to Prince George, Duke of Kent. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: Although born as a Prince of Greece and Denmark, he had taken out British citizenship by the time he married Queen Elizabeth II. The Duchess of Gloucester: She was born Christian Henriette Drolshagen, a Danish noble. Autumn Philips: The ex-wife of Peter Philips, she is Canadian. Gary Lewis: The ex-wife of Lady Davina Windsor is a New Zealand Maori. Edoardo Mapelli-Mozzi: His father, Roberto Mapelli, is Italian, even though he was born and raised in Britain. Princess Michael of Kent: She is German/Austrian/Czech heritage, with her place of birth being Nazi Germany, which is now the Czech Republic. The family of Lord Nicholas Windsor: Both of his parents are Croatian and Swedish, respectively.

This list is just the tip of the iceberg. As we delve deeper into the royal lineage, we find more and more non-British members. It is important to recognize that the concept of a 'pure' British royal family is a modern narrative and does not reflect the historical reality.

The Case of Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle, an American actress, may have created a stir when she joined the royal family. However, her background does not mark a significant departure from the norm. Prior to her marriage to Prince Harry, numerous royal family members, including Queen Alexandra and Princess Marina, had American or Canadian roots.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is not accurate to claim that Meghan Markle is the first non-British member of the British royal family. The royal lineage has a rich and diverse history, with many non-British members throughout the years. Far from being an anomaly, Meghan's presence reflects a long-standing and evolving tradition of royal family members with varied backgrounds.