Kate Middleton might have grown up as a commoner from a privileged family, but her ancestry shows that she is a descendant of an English monarch from the 1300s, who also happens to be the grandfather of Hollywood sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning.
According to Daily Express, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Fanning sisters share the same great-grandfather many times over in King Edward III, who was known as Edward of Windsor before he took the throne. The monarch of the House Plantagenet was the second-longest reigning medieval king, ruling England at the age of 14 years old until he was in his 60s.
E! News reported that Kate and the Hollywood sisters are 21st cousins though Carole Middleton's side of the family. A historian said that their connection is so "unique and rare."
Dakota made a name for herself as a child actress in movies like I Am Sam (2001) and War of the Worlds (2005). Her younger sister, Elle, played a princess in Maleficent opposite Angelina Jolie.
In 2011, Channel 4 correspondent Patrick Cracroft-Brennan traced that Kate is related to Frances Elizabeth Greenhow, a granddaughter of Sir William Gascoigne, an English knight who married the daughter of the Earl of Northumberland. The earl descended from King Edward III's bloodline from both his parents' side.
Incidentally, Prince Charles and Princess Diana's ancestry could also be traced back to Gascoigne and his wife. This actually makes Kate and Prince William distant cousins.
But Kate is also a distant relative of America's first president, per the New England Historic Genealogical Society. George Washington is the 8th cousin of the Duchess of Cambridge and their common ancestor is none other than Gascoigne as well.
The royal's American ties go deeper as she is also related to Francis Scott Key, the composer of The Star-Spangled Banner. She is also cousins with Meriwether Lewis, the famous American explorer.
In due time, Kate will be called an actual princess when Prince William becomes the Prince of Wales, and Prince Charles becomes the King of the United Kingdom. She will automatically inherit the title of the Princess of Wales, which was last given to Princess Diana.
Some years after that, when William takes the throne after his father, Kate will be known as the Queen Consort and would likely be known as Queen Catherine to their subjects. For now, she is officially referred to by her royal name, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge.
