The Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Kings of Britain, known to many as the “Royal Bastards,” and in polite company as “The Descendants,” is a lineage society founded in 1950 by some of the English-speaking world’s foremost genealogical scholars. The purpose of the Descendants has always been to foster the highest standards of genealogical scholarship.
Membership in the Descendants is open to individuals who prove descent from an illegitimate child or grandchild of a king of England, Scotland, Wales, Great Britain, or the United Kingdom. Since inception, the Descendants have set a high bar for what is, for almost all applicants, the compilation of a lineage extending back to the Middle Ages. All of the charter members and most of the officers have been Fellows of the American Society of Genealogists. Each asserted fact, and each asserted filiation from parent to child, in every applicant’s lineage must be supported with convincing evidence. Our standards are discussed more fully on the Membership page with detailed information for applicants. Another page on this site provides information on the History and Mission and [forthcoming] the distinctive coat of arms and badge of the Royal Bastards.
Please note that our mailing address has changed as of May 2023. It is now:
Hardwick Smith Johnson, Jr., Secretary–Treasurer
Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Kings of Britain
4524 Sly Fox Lane
Keedysville, MD 21756email: info@royalbastards.org
Our membership application process has been revised (November 2023): please refer to the membership page.