When we refer to “royal blood” or “blue blood”, we are talking about the blood type and heritage of royalty and nobles. There are a few key things that characterize royal blood:
Royal Blood Usually Refers to Blood Type O
Many royal families tend to have a high frequency of blood type O. This blood type is known as the “universal donor” because people with type O blood can donate to anyone, regardless of the recipient’s blood type.
Some examples of royal families with a high rate of blood type O include:
- The British Royal Family – Queen Elizabeth II has type O blood
- The Japanese Imperial Family – Emperor Naruhito has type O blood
- The Spanish Royal Family – King Felipe VI has type O blood
The reason for this high frequency of blood type O is thought to be because the royal families tended to marry within their own bloodlines. Marrying distantly related royals meant a higher chance of inheriting the same blood type over generations.
Blue Blood Refers to Ancient Royal Lineage
“Blue blood” refers not just to blood type, but also to the concept that royals and nobles had undiluted and ancient royal lineage.
The term originated from the Spanish phrase “sangre azul,” referring to the pale skin and visible blue vein color of Spanish nobles. This was said to be proof of pure and untainted royal blood, compared to commoners and peasants who spent more time working outdoors.
So “blue blood” signifies being part of an ancient royal bloodline, such as:
- The descendants of William the Conqueror who ruled England after 1066.
- The descendants of Charlemagne, King of the Franks in the 8th century.
- Families of ancient royal dynasties like the Ptolemies of Egypt.
This concept of “pure” and “refined” royal blood persists today in the belief that modern European monarchies descend from ancient royal lineages.
Royal Blood Implies Intermarrying Within Noble Houses
For centuries, royals married within other royal and noble families in order to preserve their lineage and keep wealth and power within certain family dynasties.
This habit of intermarrying meant that royal blood was shared across the royal houses of Europe. For example:
- Queen Victoria of Britain married Prince Albert of Germany, linking the British and German royal families.
- The children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert then went on to marry into other royal families like those of Russia, Norway, Greece, Romania, and Spain.
- This meant Queen Victoria’s descendants sat on the thrones of many European nations, all sharing her royal blood.
Here is a table showing how Queen Victoria’s children married into other royal families:
| Queen Victoria’s Child | Spouse |
|---|---|
| King Edward VII | Princess Alexandra of Denmark |
| Princess Alice | Prince Louis of Hesse |
| Princess Helena | Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein |
| Princess Louise | John Campbell, Marquis of Lorne |
| Prince Alfred | Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia |
| Princess Beatrice | Prince Henry of Battenberg |
This pattern of royal intermarriage meant that royal blood was shared around European monarchies. It became a symbol of their nobility, purity of lineage, and right to rule.
The Idea of Royal Blood Persists Today
While the idea of “pure” royal blood has fallen out of favor today due to its associations with racism and eugenics, the concept still influences how we view royalty.
For example, heirs to the British throne like Prince William are described in the media as having the “bluest blood” as direct descendants of Queen Victoria. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are also said to have the “bluest blood” as heirs in the direct line of succession.
The media coverage surrounding royals focuses heavily on their bloodline and ancestry. News stories about royals often describe how new family members have “royal blood” or are “new royals with royal blood.”
While not as overt, this shows how the idea of special, pure “royal blood” persists in public perceptions of monarchy today.
Royal Blood is a Social Construct
Despite all this focus on blood type and ancestry, the idea of “royal blood” is not based in genetics or biology.
There are no unique biological markers in the blood of royals compared to non-royals. Their blood types follow the same distribution as in the general population.
Royal status is conferred by social customs and legal conventions, not by genetic traits. Kings and queens are royal because of inheritance laws and social privilege, not because of blood.
So while ancestry and bloodlines are important to royals for symbolic reasons, the concept of “royal blood” itself is a social construct.
Conclusion
In summary, the idea of special “royal blood” refers to several associated concepts:
- A high frequency of blood type O among royal families
- Claims of pure and ancient noble ancestry dating back centuries
- Shared blood ties across royal houses due to intermarrying
- Persisting public fascination with royalty’s lineage and ancestry
However, there is no biological uniqueness to royal blood itself – royal status is a social convention, not a genetic trait. But the mythic idea of blue-blooded monarchs persists as a romantic fantasy surrounding kings and queens.