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London Mayor Boris Johnson is distantly related to the British royal family, albeit very far removed. Boris was born in New York to English parents in 1964 and before the programme never knew of his royal connection.
Boris' paternal grandmother, Yvonne Eileen Williams' family's name was de Pfeffel. "Granny Butter" as she was affectionately known was a descendant of Prince Paul Von Wurttemberg. This German prince was in turn a direct descendant of George II - linking Boris to today’s royals. This link also connects Boris to all the royal houses of Europe including the Swedish and Dutch royal families, as well as the Romanoffs.
Looking at his more recent ancestry Boris discovers that his great grandfather, Ali Kemal Bey, was a prominent Turkish journalist and politician. Ali's life ended in tragedy, and Boris sets out to find out more about his life, reputation and the circumstances of his death. It emerges that his great grandfather's career as both politician and journalist mirrors that of Boris himself.
Start your investigation by talking to your immediate family if you are researching relatives from overseas. They may point you towards relatives who still live in the country of origin. Researching your ancestry may involve plenty of travel. This may be necessary as far more information is available locally. The National Archives does not hold locally created records of other countries, so you will not find their birth, marriage death or census records here.
If your ancestors were immigrants to Britain or naturalised British subjects, The National Archives holds Home Office records of naturalisation for the period 1801-1987.
You will find more information on overseas ancestors from the Moving Here website. The website lists the main sources available for research, both within the UK and abroad. It will also give your historical context for the records and topics covered.
Family History Cultures and Faiths
Immigrants and Aliens 2nd edition
Tracing Your Ancestors in The National Archives
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