Queen Elizabeth II's sad death touched royal fans across the world. While her passing was most notable in the UK, the loss of Britain's longest-reigning monarch deeply affected the European royals thanks to their shared ancestry.
Aside from their geographical proximity, many of the key European royal households count Queen Elizabeth II among their distant relatives. Her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria – who earned herself the moniker 'Grandmother of Europe' – encouraged her children to marry strategically, with many of her nine children marrying into European royalty.
To offer just a few examples, Queen Victoria's eldest son Edward married Alexandra of Denmark, her daughter Princess Alice wed Prince Louis of Hesse and Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria walked down the aisle with Prince Henry of Battenberg.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe late Queen passed away at her Balmoral home
The team at HELLO! is taking a deep dive into the late monarch's extraordinary heritage beyond our tiny island. Keep scrolling to discover how the British royal family is closely connected to multiple continental royals…
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Elizabeth II were third cousins, with both royal ladies descending from Queen Victoria and King Christian IX of Denmark.
© Photo: Getty ImagesQueen Margrethe is Europe's longest-serving monarch
The distant cousins are also related through Margrethe's mother – Ingrid of Sweden – who was a descendant of Queen Victoria through her granddaughter Princess Margaret of Connaught.
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During Queen Elizabeth's reign, the two cousins were reportedly very close. The monarchs regularly met up for lunch whenever Queen Margrethe II visited London, and the duo would sweetly refer to each other as 'Lilibet' and 'Daisy'.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe duo shared a close bond
Upon hearing news of the Queen's death, Queen Margrethe II penned a moving letter to King Charles III. "Your mother was very important to me and my family," she gushed. "She was a towering figure among the European monarchs and a great inspiration to us all. We shall miss her terribly.
“Denmark and I are grateful for her continuous efforts to further strengthen the close and warm relations between our two nations. God bless you both and give you strength and hope in your future life and duties.”
Prince Albert II of Monaco
Princess Charlene and her husband Prince Albert of Monaco were among the royal guests present at Queen Elizabeth II's moving funeral service on 19 September.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince Albert of Monaco wed Princess Charlene in 2011
Prince Albert is a distant cousin of Her Majesty via a British aristocrat – Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton – who married into the House of Grimaldi when she wed Albert I, Prince of Monaco in the 19th Century.
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Prince Albert II was deeply moved by the Queen's death. In a poignant letter addressed to King Charles III, the Monegasque royal wrote: "Her Majesty's unwavering commitment and dedication to duty during her reign have always been extremely inspiring.
"It will be long remembered and admired. She truly represented the unity and dignity of the United Kingdom throughout the last seven decades."
Queen Elizabeth's 70-year reign began before Albert was even born with the Monaco royal set to turn 65 in March. Watch this video for more information on Albert's life and reign.
WATCH: Prince Albert II's life and times
King Philippe of Belgium
King Philippe of Belgium is a distant cousin of the late Queen. The third cousins share a handful of common ancestors including the likes of Franz, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld who was the grandfather of Queen Victoria and the father of King Leopold I of the Belgians.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe late Queen with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium
Both royals were great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria.
King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands
Dutch royal King Willem-Alexander and Queen Elizabeth II are fifth cousins, twice removed thanks to their shared connection to Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau.
© Photo: Getty ImagesKing Willem-Alexander succeeded his mother in 2013
While the former monarch is related to Princess Carolina through Queen Mary, King Willem-Alexander descends from Princess Carolina through her son, Frederick William, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg.
King Harald V of Norway
Norway's King Harald V was a second cousin of the late Queen, with both royals sharing the same set of great-grandparents: King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.
© Photo: Getty ImagesKing Harald V recently turned 86
During the German occupation of Norway, King Haakan and Crown Prince Olav (King Harald V's father) sought refuge at Buckingham Palace. It's believed that Queen Elizabeth II named her eldest child, Prince Charles, after King Haakan (born Prince Carl of Denmark).
MORE HARALD: King Harald of Norway shares update after worrying health scare
King Felipe VI of Spain
King Felipe VI's father, Juan Carlos I, is related to the Queen by Queen Victoria. Felipe was the Queen's third cousin, and much like Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, the Spanish royal frequently made use of Queen Elizabeth's pet name Auntie Lilibet.
© Photo: Getty ImagesKing Felipe VI with his father, Juan Carlos I
Their touching bond came to light following the sad death of the Queen's husband, Prince Philip. His emotional letter to the Queen read: "Dear Aunt Lilibet, we are deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of dear uncle Philip.
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"In these sad moments, we would like to send you our most heartfelt condolences on behalf of the government and people of Spain, and all our sympathy and support.
© Photo: Getty ImagesKing Felipe VI referred to Her Majesty as 'Aunt Lilibet'
"We will never forget the moments that we shared with him and the legacy of service and dedication to the Crown and the United Kingdom by your side. Our thoughts and prayers are with Your Majesty and the whole family."
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
The Swedish royal family is closely related to the British royal household. Like many European royals, Both King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Elizabeth II shared the same great-great-grandmother in Queen Victoria.
© Photo: Getty ImagesKing Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden
The two families are so well interconnected that some of the Swedish royals are part of Britain's line of succession. Did you know that King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is currently 293rd in line to the British throne?
And in 294th place is Prince Carl Philip – the only son of King Carl and Queen Silvia.
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