Madonna and Camilla 'related'

Updated 13.22 Wed Apr 16 2008

Keywords: ancestry, Madonna, relatives, history, Dion, Duchess of Cornwall, Celine

Madonna, The Duchess of Cornwall and Celine Dion have a family connection, according to new historical records.

It is believed that they all descend from the French carpenter Zacharie Cloutier, whose family grew to become one of the most influential families in Canada.

It is believed that they all descend from the French carpenter Zacharie Cloutier

Canadian records spanning over 300 years from 1621 were published on a family and social history website which revealed the unlikely shared ancestry of a number of famous names.

The ancestors of some of Canada's most famous French Canadians including former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau were included in the collection.

Ancestry.co.uk spokesman Simon Harper said: "The fact that Camilla and Madonna are related, however distantly, highlights the truly unpredictable and entertaining nature of family history research."

The records, which will include 37 million names, are drawn from baptism, marriage and burial data.