Camilla Parker-Bowles, née Shand, was born on 17th July 1947 in London, but her family tree can be traced back to the first wave of immigration to what is now known as Quebec. As can many other celebrity family trees.
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A French carpenter
Zacharie Cloutier Snr was a French carpenter who immigrated to New France, now known as Quebec, in 1634. His eldest son, Zacharie Cloutier, married Madeleine Ernard in 1648 whilst back in France. The newlyweds soon returned to New France and, over the course of their marriage, had eight children together.
The Queen Consort’s family tree can be traced back to this high-society couple, Mail Online reports. But the Queen Consort isn’t the only celebrity descendant of Zacharie Cloutier.
According to the publication, the Queen of Pop, Madonna, is also a descendant of the French carpenter. Another famous singer to hail from the Cloutier clan is Céline Dion, making both pop icons very distant cousins of Camilla.
Other singers that are linked to Camilla include Justin Bieber and Shania Twain, both of whose family trees can be traced back to Cloutier.
Angelina Jolie and Camilla share more than just a good friendship from working together promoting charitable causes. The Salt actress also hails from Cloutier. Another Hollywood actor who hails from the French settler is Ryan Gosling.
Royal blood?
It is well-known that the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, were cousins, related through their great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. But King Charles III and Camilla’s romance also seems to be written in more than just the stars.
Camilla and King Charles share ancestry through the second Duke of Newcastle, Henry Cavendish. The Duke, born in 1630, had four children. Charles is a descendant of the Duke’s eldest daughter, Margaret, whereas Camilla Parker-Bowles hails from the Duke’s youngest daughter Catherine. This makes them ninth cousins, according to Mail Online.
Sources used:
- My London: Royal Family: Queen Consort Camilla's famous relatives including singers Madonna and Celine Dion
- Mail Online: Camilla Duchess of Cornwall’s family tree shows she is related to Madonna, Celine Dion — and even Prince Charles
- Royal.uk: The Queen Consort
- Perche-quebec.com: Zacharie Cloutier
