London: At present there may be up to 200,000 relatives of King Richard III around the world who are unaware they have blue blood in their veins, says a genealogist.
After Richard was killed at the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 the succeeding Tudor dynasty tried to wipe out all traces of his Plantagenet family. His body was only recently found under a car park in Leicester.
Genealogist Anthony Adolph said, however, that the attempt failed and there may now be up to 200,000 relatives worldwide who have Plantagenet genes, according to the Daily Express.
In his new book Tracing Your Aristocratic Ancestors published by Pen And Sword Books, Adolph claimed that noble families multiplied because they were better fed, better defended and cared for each other in times of trouble.
Now the links coming to light, thanks to the advances in DNA testing.
Adolph cited that Richard`s cousin Sir John Neville is a direct ancestor of first US president George Washington and Second World War general George Patton.
Adolph himself is descended from Margaret Plantagenet Pole, Countess of Salisbury, daughter of the Duke of Clarence, who was murdered by his brother Richard III.
(ANI)
