Letter: Family tree of Prince William

Family tree of Prince William

Sir: Paul Vallely ("The cost of the royal snub to Carey", 10 March) may be right to describe Henry VIII as the founder of the church into which Prince William has been confirmed, but he is wrong to describe Henry as the Prince's ancestor.

Henry VIII was succeeded by three surviving children: Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I; but when Elizabeth died in 1603 the throne of England passed to the descendants of Henry's elder sister Margaret and her husband, James V of Scotland.

On the other hand, Prince William can claim as ancestors the (anti-) pope Felix V and such royal figures as St Margaret of Scotland, St Louis IX of France, and St Fernando III of Castile and Leon. And he can probably also claim descent from Genghis Khan - a fitting replacement for Henry VIII?

ERIC THOMPSON

London NW2