Question

Am I directly related to Princess Diana as my ancestor was Sir John Spencer my 12th great grandfather?

Answer 1

Hi James, welcome to WT! I would suggest you consider becoming a full member, it's totally free, and begin by entering your parents, their parents, and work backwards. This way, you will begin to see how your ancestors branch out! Should you need a little help along the way, you can always stop back in here at the G2G Forum with any questions you may have. There are a lot of wonderful people here at WT that could help you out if you need it! I wish you all the best in your ancestor search, and I hope you find your time here as wonderful as I have!

Comments

Thank you Susan!

Answer 2

You need to add more ancestors (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and all their spouses - along with accurate sources) and get linked up to the one global tree that wikitree is building before we can determine if you are related to the Spencer family.

While you are not currently connected to the global tree, we are unable to help you. Wikitree does not autopopulate the tree. You will need to create profiles for your ancestors.

Answer 3

James, Genealogically speaking, when one says they are "directly" related to an ancestor, they mean that they descend from that ancestor.  As you are not one of her children or grand children, you are not "directly" related.

You could be, however, a cousin.  This needs to be proven through good evidence documentation.  These collateral or cousin lines are one of the strengths of WikiTree.   If this is your Sir John Spencer and you can document your descent from him, then yes, you are related to Princess Diana.

This is her direct decent from him.

https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Special:Relationship&action=calculate&person1Name=Spencer-305&person2Name=Spencer-40

Comments

As an aside, those of us who have been doing genealogy for a long time have learned that the question is not, "Are we related?" but "WHEN are we related". We are all related, unfortunately we do not have the documentation to go far enough back in time to find when we have a common ancestor.  DNA testing however is revealing these long ago connections.

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Another question is "HOW are we related?"

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Directly related is not the same as being a direct descendant.  I am directly related to my siblings, and my children, not descended from them.  I am a direct descendant of the Doctor, however, and of Joseph and Mary.  

I would consider a "direct" relationship as including spouses, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, children, siblings (including half-sibs), nieces, and nephews.  

Under the law, a direct relation also includes mothers-in- law, fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and stepchildren.