1. Headline
  1. Headline
Advertise | AdChoices

Prince Charles claims Vlad the Impaler as ancestor

He announces ties to ‘Dracula’ inspiration in a bid to protect Transylvania’s forests

Advertise | AdChoices
Image: Prince Charles
Scott Heppell  /  AP
Britain's Prince Charles salutes at the monument to Charles Grey in Newcastle, England on Oct. 8, 2011.
updated 10/27/2011 1:36:59 PM ET 2011-10-27T17:36:59

LONDON — The truth is out: Prince Charles is related to Vlad the Impaler.

  1. More about the Royals
    1. Duchess Kate surprises young fan with touching letter
    2. London Mayor accepts Pippa's Ping-Pong challenge
    3. Duchess Kate (TM)? Charity wants to trademark royals’ names
    4. PETA to Queen Elizabeth: Stop pigeon racing
    5. Prince William's job saving people from 'edge of death' may end

The heir to the British throne says he is related to Vlad the Impaler, the cruel 15th-Century Romanian warlord who helped inspire Bram Stoker's 1897 vampire novel "Dracula."

Slideshow: Fairytales do come true... (on this page)

He makes the comments on an upcoming TV show to promote his interest in protecting the forests of Romania's Transylvania region.

Slideshow: The lives of princes (on this page)

Charles says genealogy shows that he is related to Vlad, giving him a stake in the future of Romania. The prince has long worked to conserve the forests and has bought a home in the region.

Slideshow: William and Kate’s royal visit to North America (on this page)

On a visit to Romania earlier this year, he called Transylvania a national treasure because of its unspoiled landscape and centuries-old rural farming traditions.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

People.com
Advertise | AdChoices
Advertise | AdChoices
Advertise | AdChoices

Photos: Ceremony

Open in new window

loading photos...
  1. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, walk hand in hand from Buckingham Palace the day after their wedding to a waiting helicopter. (John Stillwell / PA / Pool via Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Image: Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton - Clarence House
    Related interactive Report: Charles’ reception speech included balding jokes, Kate appreciation
  2. The wedding bouquet of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, lies on the grave of the unknown warrior in Westminster Abbey on April 30, 2011 in London, England. (Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related story A pair of kisses seal marriage of William, Kate
  3. Image: The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Make An Official Visit To Cambridge
    Related interactive Duchess Kate is pregnant with first child
    Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge pose for an official photo with (left to right): Miss Grace van Cutsem, Miss Eliza Lopes, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HM The Queen, The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Lady Louise Windsor, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton.

    Back Row (left to right): Master Tom Pettifer, HRH Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Harry of Wales, Mr. Michael Middleton, Mrs. Michael Middleton, Mr. James Middleton, Miss Philippa Middleton, in the throne room at Buckingham Palace. (Handout / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  4. Advertise | AdChoices
    Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, pose for a photograph with (clockwise from bottom right): Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Eliza Lopes, Grace van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Tom Pettifer, and William Lowther-Pinkerton in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, following their wedding at Westminster Abbey. (Hugo Burnand / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  5. The royal couple poses in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011 in London. (Hugo Burnand / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Image: Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, walk together in Buckingham Palace in central London
    Related interactive Prince William to return to work before honeymoon abroad
    Advertise | AdChoices
  6.  Related interactive Will and Kate leave the palace in style
    Prince William and Princess Catherine take a spin outside Buckingham Palace in a convertible following their marriage. (Matt Dunham / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  7. Related story A couple of (short) kisses seal the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton
    Members of the public gather along the Mall and around the Queen Victoria Memorial as they await Prince William and his wife Catherine's appearance. (Oli Scarff / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  8. Prince William, who has been given the title of The Duke of Cambridge, greets Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her husband Tim Mathieson at Buckingham Palace in London after his wedding. (Ian West / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  9. Prince William and his wife Catherine exit the 1902 State Landau carriage as they arrive at Buckingham Palace after their wedding in Westminster Abbey. (Andrew Winning / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related interactive Finally, Kate's wedding gown revealed!
  10. Prince Charles makes the journey by carriage procession to Buckingham Palace following his son's wedding at Westminster Abbey. (Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Image: Baby Prince
    Related slideshow The life and times of Prince Charles
    Advertise | AdChoices
  11. Prince William and Princess Catherine approach Buckingham Palace by carriage procession following their marriage at Westminster Abbey. (Oli Scarff / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Advertise | AdChoices
  12. Image:
    Related slideshow Celeb chefs’ royal menu ideas
    Rachel Jane Eardley and Diane Pallett put the finishing touches to the royal wedding cake, that Fiona Cairns and her team created for Prince William and Princess Catherine, in the Picture Gallery of Buckingham Palace. (John Stillwell / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  13. Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Thousands gathered outside the palace gates to witness the couples first public kiss as husband and wife. (Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  14. Prince William and his wife Catherine, now known as the duchess of Cambridge, wave from their open-topped carriage as they leave Westminster Abbey after their wedding ceremony. (Alastair Grant / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related slideshow A royal couple’s long courtship
  15. Prince William, duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, duchess of Cambridge, ride along The Mall to Buckingham Palace following their marriage ceremony at Westminster Abbey. (Christopher Furlong / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  16. Related slideshow Low-hanging princes: The world's single royals
    Best man Prince Harry rides with two of the bridesmaids and a page boy in an Ascot Landau carriage along the processional route to Buckingham Palace after his brother's wedding ceremony. (Ben Stansall / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  17. Prince William and Catherine greet the thousands of people gathered along the processional route as they make their way in the 1902 State Landau carriage to Buckingham Palace. (Damien Meyer / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  18. Prince William and his new wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge emerge from Westminster Abbey after their wedding ceremony. (Lewis Whyld / Pa / Pool / EPA) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related interactive Finally, Kate's wedding gown revealed!
    Advertise | AdChoices
  19. Prince William's father Prince Charles stands with Kate's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, after the wedding ceremony of their children. (Toby Melville / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related story A couple of (short) kisses seal the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton
  20. Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Phillip travel in a closed-top carriage along the processional route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. (Ben Stansall / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  21. An aerial view of Westminster Abbey as bride Kate Middleton arrives on the hand of her father Michael Middleton. She was trailed by her sister and maid of honor, Pippa Middleton, as well as her bridesmaids and page boys. (Wpa Pool / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Image: The Dean of Westminster Abbey, John Hall, walks through Westminster Abbey, in central
    Related slideshow Westminster Abbey: 1,000 years of history
    Advertise | AdChoices
  22. Advertise | AdChoices
     Related interactive Finally, Kate's wedding gown revealed!
    Prince William puts the ring on the finger of his bride Catherine Middleton in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The ring was made from a nugget of Welsh gold. (Andrew Milligan / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  23. Guests at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton join the couple in singing hymns. (Wpa Pool / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  24. Catherine Middleton, holding the hand of her father Michael, gives her groom Prince William a big smile while joining him at the altar at the start of their wedding ceremony. (Pool / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  25. Kate Middleton walks to the alter with her father Michael. (Pool / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related story Sew fast: Kate-inspired gowns already in the works
  26. Bride Kate Middleton walks down the aisle with her father Michael at Westminster Abbey, followed by her sister Philippa and other bridemaids. (Andrew Milligan / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Advertise | AdChoices
  27. Page-boy Tom Pettifer laughs as he arrives at Westminster Abbey with William Lowther-Pinkerton, and bridesmaids Lady Louise Windsor and Margarita Armstrong-Jones for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. (Dan Kitwood / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Advertise | AdChoices
  28. Related slideshow Royal wedding’s flashy fashion
    Kate Middleton arrives with her sister Philippa Middleton at the West Door of Westminster Abbey in London for her wedding to Britain's Prince William. (Ben Stansall / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  29. Kate Middleton waves as she rides next to her father Michael in a Rolls Royce on their way to Westminster Abbey for her marriage to Britain's Prince William. (Tony Gentile / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  30. Maid of honor Philippa Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey for the wedding of her sister to Prince William. (Carl De Souza / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Advertise | AdChoices
  31. Britain's Prince William waves as he arrives with his brother Prince Harry at the West Door of Westminster Abbey for his wedding, in London on Friday. (Odd Anderson / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  32. Princess Eugenie of York and Princess Beatrice of York arrive at Westminster Abbey to attend the royal wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton. (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related slideshow Royal wedding’s flashy fashion
    Advertise | AdChoices
  33. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with the Dean of Westminster as she arrives at the West Door of Westminster Abbey. (Ben Stansall / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Image: Marcus Adams Exhibition Opens at The Queen's Gallery in Edinburgh
    Related slideshow Life of a queen
  34. Image: Baby Prince
    Related slideshow The life and times of Prince Charles
    Carole Middleton, the mother of Kate Middleton, arrives at the West Door of Westminster Abbey for the wedding of her daughter to Britain's Prince William. (Ben Stansall / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  35. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrives at Westminster Abbey. (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related slideshow Royal wedding’s flashy fashion
    Advertise | AdChoices
  36. Anne, the Princess Royal, arrives at the West Door of Westminster Abbey. (Ben Stansall / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  37. Prince William marries Kate Middleton in the wedding watched by millions around the world (Pool / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
    Prince William and Kate Middleton attend the wedding of friend Chiara Hunt in Salzburg, Austria - 06 Sep 2008
    Related interactive Your wedding vs. the royal wedding
  38. David and Victoria Beckham arrive at Westminster Abbey to attend the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Beckham served as a soccer ambassador with Prince William in Britain's failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup. (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    David Beckham, Victoria Beckham
    Related story Royal wedding fashion blends traditional and modern
    Advertise | AdChoices
  39. Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and his wife Miriam arrive at Westminster Abbey for the royal wedding. (Alastair Grant / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
    Advertise | AdChoices
  40. Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish are directed to their seats in Westminster Abbey. (Dominic Lipinska / PA Pool via EPA) Back to slideshow navigation
    Advertise | AdChoices
  41. Military bands play in London's Parliament Square ahead of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. (John Giles / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related slideshow Something old something new…
  42. A marching band of guardsmen parades along The Mall before the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. (Dylan Martinez / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related slideshow Crown jewels: Greatest royal headgear
  43. Guests arrive at Westminster Abbey in the hours before the wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton. (Phil Noble / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  44. Related slideshow Who’s invited to the royal wedding?
    The Right Reverend Dr. John Hall, Dean of Westminster holds the wedding program, titled the Order of Service, before the wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey. (Dan Kitwood / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  1. Editor's note:
    This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.

    Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.

    Back to slideshow navigation
    Related
    Advertise | AdChoices

  2. Editor's note:
    This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.

    Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.

    Advertise | AdChoices
     Related

    Back to slideshow navigation

  3. Editor's note:
    This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.

    Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.

    Back to slideshow navigation
    Related

  4. Editor's note:
    This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.

    Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.

    Related

    Back to slideshow navigation
  1. Image: Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, walk together in Buckingham Palace in central London
    John Stillwell / PA / Pool via Getty Images
    Above: Slideshow (44) Will and Kate's royal wedding - Ceremony
  2. Image: Royal Wedding - The Newlyweds Greet Wellwishers From The Buckingham Palace Balcony
    Oli Scarff / Getty Images
    Slideshow (31) Will and Kate's royal wedding - Royal fans
  3. Image: Ex-pats In Kabul Watch Royal Wedding
    Paula Bronstein / Getty Images
    Slideshow (18) Will and Kate's royal wedding - World reaction
  4. Image: Police officers walk down The Mall before the wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton in central London
    Dylan Martinez / Reuters
    Slideshow (9) Will and Kate's royal wedding - Security
  5. Image: Bhutan Celebrates As The King Marries
    Paula Bronstein / Getty Images
    Slideshow (15) Fairytales do come true...
  6. Image: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in USA
    Alex Gallardo / EPA
    Slideshow (64) William and Kate’s royal visit to North America
  1. Harry Playroom Kensington Palace
    Tim Graham / Getty Images
    Slideshow (36) The lives of princes

Show more slideshows

Discuss:

Advertise | AdChoices

Discussion comments

“ ”

Expand Collapse
,
Reply
Advertise | AdChoices
Advertise | AdChoices
Advertise | AdChoices

Most active discussions

  1. votes comments
  2. votes comments
  3. votes comments
  4. votes comments

More on TODAY.com

None
Pets
  1. YouTube
    Pets

    Military members’ emotional reunions with their dogs

    5/25/2013 3:56:22 PM +00:00 2013-05-25T15:56:22
None
World News
  1. World News

    Three more arrested in killing of UK soldier

    Three more men were arrested Saturday in the investigation into the killing of a British soldier in London, police said.

    5/25/2013 9:19:34 PM +00:00 2013-05-25T21:19:34
None
  1.  msnbc
    News

    video Mixed emotions as Moore, Okla. students graduate

    5/25/2013 8:25:45 PM +00:00 2013-05-25T20:25:45
None
  1.  msnbc
    Celebrities

    video VS Angel takes teen to prom instead of Upton

    5/25/2013 9:20:21 PM +00:00 2013-05-25T21:20:21
None
  1.  TODAY
    News

    video Keeping vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

    5/25/2013 3:48:12 PM +00:00 2013-05-25T15:48:12
Tips
  1. Style

    Memorial Day shopping do’s and don’ts

    video The rain in the Northeast is bad for barbecues but good for the retailers who are pulling out all the stops to drive customers to their stores this weekend. Though the discounts may be deep, there are some purchases that are smarter than others. 

    5/25/2013 2:46:13 PM +00:00 2013-05-25T14:46:13