She is some kind of great (great-great ...) niece, being a descendant of Richard III's niece, Elizabeth of York, the wife of Henry VII.

Yes, quite right. The Queen is a 14th great-grandniece of Richard III, since she is allegedly directly descended from at least three of his siblings: Edward IV [Father of Elizabeth of York, who married Henry VII] Elizabeth, Duchess of Suffolk George, Duke of Clarence So this is off the mark in The Telegraph: "But Prof Schurer said: "He (Cumberbatch) is more direct because he is a third cousin. Most other relatives would be much lower order cousins. "I think the Queen would be a third cousin several times removed as well." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11325421/Benedict-Cumberbatch-and-Richard-III-are-third-cousins.html There are much closer relationships between the Queen and Richard III than "a third cousin several times removed"... ...And, Benedict Cumberbatch is allegedly a 15th great-grandnephew of Richard III, not just a third cousin, as Professor Schurer has him -- but it is allegedly through an illegitimate linkage to Edward IV, as Brad Verity has pointed out. Cumberbatch is also allegedly a 7th cousin, once removed of the Queen -- the linkage passes through the beloved Queen Mother, to the Queen. DSH "The final happiness of man consists in the contemplation of truth.... This is sought for its own sake, and is directed to no other end beyond itself." Saint Thomas Aquinas, [1224/5-1274] _Summa Contra Gentiles_ [c. 1258-1264] wrote in message news:06a8327a-5591-4697-be73-386005e379b5@googlegroups.com... She is some kind of great (great-great ...) niece, being a descendant of Richard III's niece, Elizabeth of York, the wife of Henry VII.