Donald Trump, president, United States of America and King Charles III, King of England, are distant cousins, linked through a 16th-century Scottish nobleman, according to newly detailed genealogical research that sheds fresh light on the historical ties underpinning the modern U.S.–U.K. relationship.
The findings, compiled by genealogist Robert Barrett and reported by royal biographer Robert Hardman, reveal that both men share a common ancestor in the 3rd Earl of Lennox, a great-grandson of James II of Scotland. The connection makes Trump and Charles III 15th cousins, adding an unexpected familial dimension to diplomatic relations between Washington and London.
The 3rd Earl of Lennox played a turbulent role in Scottish history. He was captured and killed in 1526 during a violent struggle for control over the young James V of Scotland, reportedly murdered by a rival known as the Bastard of Arran. His lineage, however, endured and became central to both British royal succession and Trump’s ancestry.
Through the Earl’s descendants came Lord Darnley, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. Their son later became James I of England, a pivotal figure whose line ultimately leads to the modern House of Windsor.
On the American side, the ancestral trail runs through Lady Helen of the Lennox line, who married into the Sutherland family. Generations later, her descendant Lady Jane married a chief of Clan Mackay, producing Donald Mackay, later the 1st Lord Reay. A staunch royalist, Mackay fought for Charles I of England during the English Civil War.
Mackay’s loyalty came at a cost. He was imprisoned, briefly held in the Tower of London, and later exiled to Denmark, where he died. His story, marked by political intrigue and personal conflict, reflects the oftenvolatile nature of the shared lineage.
The family line continued through generations of the Mackay and MacLeod families before reaching Mary Anne MacLeod, who emigrated to the United States in 1930. She later married property developer Fred Trump and became the mother of five children, including Donald Trump, born in 1946.
Researchers relied on land records, church documents, and Scottish peerage archives to reconstruct the lineage, overcoming gaps in historical recordkeeping. One challenge involved clarifying connections through multiple marriages within the Mackay family, which had long obscured parts of Trump’s ancestry.
The findings also connect Trump to Scandinavian royalty through shared descent from Christian I of Denmark, linking him to the royal houses of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The connection adds historical context to Trump’s past interest in Greenland, a Danish territory now under Frederik X.
Despite the genealogical intrigue, British officials are reportedly moving away from describing U.S.–U.K. ties as a “special relationship,” preferring terms such as “enduring relationship” or “extraordinary alliance.” Diplomats say the shift predates current political leadership and is not tied to relations between Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Recent engagements suggest ties remain strong. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted Charles and Queen Camilla at the White House for an informal visit, ahead of a formal event. The visit followed a high-profile reception at the British Embassy in Washington attended by hundreds of guests.
Trump has also spoken warmly of the monarchy, recalling his meetings with the late Elizabeth II and describing his relationship with Charles as close.
The discovery carries historical irony. Through the same royal lineage, Trump is also related to George III, whose rule over the American colonies ended with independence in 1776 an anniversary the United States is set to mark with its 250th celebrations.
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