Meghan Markle is a distant relative of William Shakespeare AND Winston Churchill
MEGHAN Markle is going to become a Brit when she marries her prince – but the American already has some well-known English relatives.
The Suits star, 36, is distantly related to both William Shakespeare and Winston Churchill, according to genealogists.
The research carried out by MyHeritage.com found Meghan is the Bard’s fifth cousin 13 times removed on her mum Doria Ragland’s side.
And Meghan, who was born in LA, is a sixth cousin five times removed of prime minister Churchill through British settler Zachariah Howe.
Howe was born in Essex in 1640 before moving to Massachusetts in search of a new life.
It was in the US he met wife, Sarah, née Gilbert, who was the daughter of Somerset-born Matthew Gilbert.
Meghan is a distant descendant of their son, John, while Sir Winston can trace his lineage back to their daughter, Sarah Curtis.
Aaron Godfrey, MyHeritage spokesman, said: “When we heard the wonderful news about Harry and Meghan’s engagement, we wanted to help Meghan discover some English roots of her own.
“I’m sure she will be delighted to know that she comes from such prestigious British stock.”
And it also emerged that Meghan’s ancestor was beheaded on the orders of Prince Harry’s royal forebear Henry VIII.
Meghan and Prince Harry announced their engagement after a 16-month romance.
Harry, 33, popped the question over a roast chicken with a stunning sparkler containing two diamonds from his late mother’s collection.
The loved-up pair are due to marry in May at Windsor Castle and Meghan will study to be a British citizen and take the citizenship test “in due course”.
Divorcee Meghan, a protestant who went to a private Catholic high school, will be baptised and confirmed before the wedding.
, Meghan has been baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury in an intimate service at the Chapel Royal.
Meghan has been busy with wedding preparations, booking the cake maker and choosing her dress.
But she has had a last-minute setback as it was revealed her father Thomas would not be coming to the wedding and walking her down the aisle.
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