Right Royal Bastards

"David Cameron MP, descendent of a right royal bastard, receives a copy of Burke's Right Royal Bastards from the authors"

Sex, power, mystery and blood - gripping, untold stories about the British monarchy, and a sensational investigation using DNA to establish the Blood Line of the Royal House of Stuart.

Since 1066 when William the Conqueror (alias William the Bastard) took the throne, English and Scottish kings have sired at least 150 children out of wedlock. Many were acknowledged at court and founded dynasties of their own – several of today’s dukedoms are descended from them. Others were only acknowledged begrudgingly. In the 20th century, the trend for royals to father illegitimate children did not change - but the parentage, while highly probable, has not been officially recognised at all.

This book is a new, genuinely fresh approach to 'Kings & Queens' on British television. It is strongly rooted in four, focused themes about well-known monarchs. But we see them and their times through the unfamiliar perspective of their bastard children. Interviewees include many of the royal bastards' descendants. Beyond the personal narratives, this book sheds light on the perennially fascinating national obsessions of sexual habits; the links between politics, power and patronage; the class system; the press, gossip, sleaze, scandal and celebrity; the different expectations we have of men and women.

Two leading genealogists have already done the groundwork for the book - they have trawled public archives and gained access to private papers, including those kept by the royal family. Beyond colour and anecdote, their investigations have unearthed startling new material. And in the final analysis there is the DNA sequencing used to determine the DNA of the Royal House of Stuart.

Beaverbrook