Bob Odenkirk – known to millions as dodgy lawyer Saul Goodman – has recently discovered that he is distantly related to King Charles III.
The news of his royal link came as a huge surprise to the Better Call Saul star, who found out when he took part on US celebrity genealogy show Finding Your Roots.
This revelation was especially surprising for Odenkirk as he had admitted earlier in the show that he wasn’t a monarchist, saying he found the concept “a little twisted”, adding: “I’m an American, I’m not a monarchist. I don’t believe in that.”
Finding Your Roots’ host, Henry Louis Gates Jr, then stunned the actor by revealing there was a link through his father’s side of the family to the UK royal family. Odenkirk had previously said he didn’t know much about his father’s side of the family, as his father, Walter, had left the family home when he was just 15.
The link was that his father’s great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was the son of Maria Catharina Bein and the Duke of Plon – although he was born out of wedlock. The Duke of Plon was a nobleman in what is now Germany and provides the royal link – and it means that Odenkirk and King Charles III are 11th cousins.
On learning the link, Odenkirk saw the funny side, quipping: “Well maybe I’ll change my mind on that,” referring to his previous disparaging statements on the monarchy.
King Charles III’s opinion on being related to a famous actor are not known.
So while Odenkirk might not be heading to Buckingham Palace for tea any time soon – or finding himself in line for the throne – it shows some of the amazing links some of us have, if you go back far enough into your family tree.
