A retiree has demanded the DNA of Queen Elizabeth II in an effort to prove his ancestors were the rightful heirs to the throne.
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According to Express, Francois Graftieaux claims his father, Pierre-Edouard was born from the secret relationship between his grandmother Marie-Leonie Graftieaux and the then-Prince of Wales Edward VIII (before he abdicated).
The 73-year-old argues that the affair between Marie-Leonie and Prince Edward VIII means that Francois’s ancestors were the rightful heirs to the throne between 1916 (the year his father, Pierre-Edouard was born) and December 1936, when Edward VIII renounced his right to the throne to marry Wallis Simpson.
The retiree believes his grandmother fell pregnant in 1915, two years after Edward VIII started a relationship with her and saw the woman every time he could escape his war duties.
However, Mr Graftieaux said his grandmother’s silence was bought, and she used the money to become a leading fashion designer in France (she also changed her name to Marcelle Dormoy after the birth of her son).
Express reports that the retiree does, in fact, resemble the former Duke of Windsor, and quotes Francois as saying:
“In the 1900s, the true line of succession was unlawfully concealed to block the Graftieauxs from their place in history.
“Whilst my father and I would have had no direct claim to the throne on account of Edward’s abdication, which also precluded his descendants from becoming King, the Graftieauxs would have become nobility at the very least.
“As the last of my family of Graftieauxs, I will take whatever action is possible and necessary to protect our legacy and to shed light on one of the greatest Royal sex scandals in living memory.”
According to Express, this is the third time Mr Graftieaux has asked for Buckingham Palace to provide a sample of the Queen’s DNA, in order for him to prove his father’s connection to the House of Windsor.
The publication noted that the Portugal-based pensioner also asked for a DNA sample in 2004 and in 2013, only to be ignored.
This time, however, Mr Graftieaux claims he will start a legal case against Buckingham Palace.
What’s more, he is reportedly not seeking any monetary compensation or a royal title, but just wants his family recognised in the history of the British Royal family.
“I am not asking the Palace for money, title or power but merely to ascertain the identity of my grandfather and the circumstances surrounding my father’s birth.
“If the Palace again refuses to cooperate, which I strongly suspect it will, then I am happy to seek legal advice and let what amounts to the largest Royal sex scandal in history play out in public through the courts,” Express quoted him as saying.
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While the Royal Family can’t be prosecuted under criminal law nor sued through the civil courts, (according to the English law) Mr Graftieaux may succeed in launching a legal case against the Palace itself to force an investigation.
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