Descendants of Charles I of England facts for kids

King Charles I of England

Busts of King Charles and his wife Queen Henrietta Maria

Charles I of England was a king who ruled England, Scotland, and Ireland in the 1600s. He was part of the House of Stuart family. Charles became king after his older brother died in 1612. He then married Henrietta Maria of France, a princess from the French royal family.

His time as king was full of arguments with the Parliament of England. Parliament wanted to limit the king's power. But Charles believed in the divine right of kings. This meant he thought God had chosen him to rule. Many people disagreed, seeing him as a king who wanted too much power. His religious choices and his marriage to a Roman Catholic princess also made some groups, like the Puritans, unhappy. These conflicts eventually led to the English Civil War. Charles was later removed from power and beheaded in 1649. After him, Oliver Cromwell ruled England for a time.

Today, many royal families in Europe are related to King Charles I. For example, Juan Carlos I of Spain, Philippe of Belgium, and Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg are all his descendants. Even King Charles III of the United Kingdom is related to him, through Charles I's sister. This article will explore the many people who are descendants of King Charles I and his wife, Queen Henrietta Maria.

His Children and Their Families

King Charles and Queen Henrietta Maria with their eldest infant children

King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria had several children. Here is a look at their main children and who they married:

Name	Picture	Born	Died	Marriages and Children
King Charles II of England		29 May 1630	6 February 1685	Married Catherine of Braganza in 1662. They had no children who lived. He did have children with other women.
Mary, Princess Royal		4 November 1631	24 December 1660	Married William II, Prince of Orange in 1641. They had one child, who became King William III.
King James II of England		24 October 1633	16 September 1701	Married Anne Hyde first in 1660. They had two daughters who became queens: Mary II and Anne. He married Mary of Modena second in 1673. They had children, including James, Prince of Wales.
Elizabeth Stuart		28 December 1635	8 September 1650	She did not have any children.
Henry, Duke of Gloucester		8 July 1640	13 September 1660	He did not have any children.
Princess Henrietta Anne		16 June 1644	30 June 1670	Married Philip, Duke of Orléans in 1661. They had children.

Descendants of King Charles II

King Charles II had no children with his wife, but he had many children with other women. These children are known as illegitimate descendants. Many important families today are related to them.

Name	Picture	Parents	Marriages and Children	Died	Notes
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth		Son of Charles II and Lucy Walter	Married Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch.	15 July 1685	His family line includes Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester and Sarah, Duchess of York.
Charlotte Lee, Countess of Lichfield		Daughter of Charles II and Barbara Villiers, 1st Duchess of Cleveland	Married Edward Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield. They had 18 children.	17 February 1718	Her descendants include former Prime Minister Anthony Eden.
Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton		Son of Charles II and Barbara Villiers, 1st Duchess of Cleveland	Married Isabella Bennet, 2nd Countess of Arlington. They had one son.	9 October 1690	He is an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans		Son of Charles II and Nell Gwynne	Married Diana de Vere. They had 12 children.	10 May 1726	His family line includes Samantha Cameron, wife of former Prime Minister David Cameron.
Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond		Son of Charles II and Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth	Married Anne Brudenell. They had 3 children.	27 May 1723	He is also an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Descendants of Princess Mary

Princess Mary was the first child of Charles I to have children. Her son became a very important king.

Name	Picture	Parents	Marriages and Children	Died	Notes
King William III of England		Son of Mary and William II	Married his cousin, Princess Mary. They had no children.	8 March 1702	He became King of England after his uncle, James II. He ruled jointly with his wife. He has no living descendants today.

Descendants of King James II

King James II had children from two marriages. His daughters became queens, but his direct male line eventually ended.

Name	Picture	Parents	Marriages and Children	Died	Notes
Queen Mary II of England		Daughter of James II and Lady Anne Hyde	Married William III of England. They had no children.	28 December 1694	She ruled England together with her husband, William. She has no descendants.
Queen Anne of Great Britain		Daughter of James II and Lady Anne Hyde	Married Prince George of Denmark. They had 17 children, but none lived to adulthood.	1 August 1714	She was the first ruler of Great Britain. Since her children died young, she has no descendants.
James Francis Edward Stuart		Son of James II and Mary of Modena	Married Maria Klementyna Sobieska. They had 2 children.	1 January 1766	His family line, the House of Stuart, ended with his second son.

Descendants of Princess Henrietta Anne

Princess Henrietta Anne married a French duke. Her descendants include many members of European royal families today.

Name	Picture	Parents	Marriages and Children	Died	Notes
Anne Marie d'Orléans		Daughter of Philippe d'Orléans and Henrietta	Married Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia. They had 3 children.	26 August 1728	She has many living descendants today. Her daughter married into the French royal family.
Marie Adélaïde of Savoy		Daughter of Anne Marie and Victor Amadeus	Married Louis, Duke of Burgundy. They had 2 children.	12 February 1712	Her only son who lived became Louis XV of France.
Louis XV of France		Son of Marie Adélaïde and Louis, Duke of Burgundy	Married Marie Leszczyńska. They had 10 children.	10 May 1774	His descendants include Juan Carlos I of Spain.
Louise Élisabeth, Duchess of Parma		Daughter of Louis XV and Marie Leszczyńska	Married Philip, Duke of Parma. They had 3 children.	6 December 1759	She has many descendants, including Juan Carlos I of Spain, Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Philippe of Belgium.
Maria Luisa, Queen of Spain		Daughter of Louise Élisabeth and Philip, Duke of Parma	Married Charles IV of Spain. They had 7 children.	2 January 1819	Her descendants include many current European royals, like Juan Carlos I of Spain, Philippe of Belgium, and Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

See also

• House of Stuart
• Henrietta Maria of France
• Descendants of James II of England
• Descendants of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans