Thursday, February 14, 2008

Question from Colleen - Queen Elizabeth II's descent from Bess of Hardwick

I read that Elizabeth II descends from Bess of Hardwick. Can anyone tell me how?

5 comments:

Lara said...

Playing around on http://www.thepeerage.com/ I found the line of descent below... although I noticed that several times Cavendish cousins married each other, so I suspect that there are different descents that would work too.

Elizabeth Hardwick m.(2) Sir William Cavendish
Sir William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire
Sir William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire
Sir William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire
Sir William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire
Sir William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire
Sir William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
Lady Dorothy Cavendish
William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland
Lt. Col. Lord William Charles Augustus Cavendish-Bentinck
Reverend Charles William Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck
Nina Cecilie Cavendish-Bentinck
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (a.k.a. The Queen Mum)
Elizabeth II

Lara said...

Marilyn was having trouble posting, so I'm posting this comment for her:

It is true that Elizabeth II is a descendant of Bess. Also, Lady Diana Spencer was descended from Lady Elizabeth Cavendish, a sister of William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, which means that the princes William and Harry are descended from Bess of Hardwick through both Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Marilyn

Author of "The Bare Bones of British Royal Family Trees"
www.queens-haven.co.uk

Anonymous said...

I did see on thepeerage.com that one of the Cavendishes married a child of the 1st Earl Spencer...thanks for all the info! This stuff fascinates me :)

Unknown said...

I am so excited about our family line. I didn't know these details. my aunt just found out that Bess of Hardwick was our (and for many more I am sure) 10th and 11th great grandmother.

Anonymous said...

My mother’s mother is descended from England how would I know if we are from Bess’s line my grandmother’s last name is Hardwick