by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2025

For many years, Johan Willem Friso of Orange-Nassau, Prince of Orange (1687-1711) was the most recent common ancestor of all current hereditary European monarchs.  However, upon the accession of King Charles III of the United Kingdom in September 2022, there is more recent common ancestor – Ludwig IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt.  (Queen Elizabeth II was not a descendant, but King Charles III is, through his father, the late Duke of Edinburgh.)

Ludwig IX (1719-1790), and his first wife, Caroline of Zweibrücken (1721-1774) had 8 children, and it is through the eldest four that they are the most recent common ancestors of all the current hereditary monarchs in Europe:

Their eldest daughter, Princess Caroline (1746-1821) married Friedrich V, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg.  Caroline is a direct ancestress of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg.

Their second daughter, Princess Friederike Luise (1751-1805) married King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia.  Friederike is a direct ancestress of King Philippe of the Belgians, King Frederik X of Denmark, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, King Harald V of Norway, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, and King Charles III of the United Kingdom.

Their eldest son, Ludwig I, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine (1753-1830) married Princess Luise of Hesse-Darmstadt.  Ludwig is a direct ancestor of King Charles III of the United Kingdom.

Their third daughter, Princess Amalie (1754-1832) married Karl Ludwig, Hereditary Prince of Baden.  Amalie is a direct ancestress of King Philippe of the Belgians, Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein, Prince Albert II of Monaco, King Felipe VI of Spain, and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

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