The Chase's 'Governess' Anne Hegerty previously unveiled a surprising Royal family link as she discovered that she was related to the late Queen. The revelation came to light during an episode of DNA Journey, as she appeared on the ancestry programme alongside her ITV quiz show co-star Shaun Wallace. 

Anne, 66, told viewers at home that she already had an inkling about the relation. She explained that when she was growing up, her grandmother had told her tales about their blue-blooded lineage, but she never took them to be real and thought the whole thing was totally unbelievable. 

"My grandmother was the most tremendous liar," the ITV star laughed. "My aunt said she was a romancer and she'd embroider life a bit, so I always felt that anything from my grandmother had to be taken with a pinch of salt."

However, it turned out that Anne's nan was in fact telling the truth and the Chaser is actually a 19th cousin of the longest reigning monarch.

Anne's incredible royal connections don't end there. The show also revealed that she is a distant relation of King Robert the Bruce. The King of Scots who ruled from 1306 until his death in 1329, is her 20-times great grandfather.

The quizzer's mum was also aware of the connections prior to her appearing on DNA Journey but was "disproving" of it. Anne explained on the show: "As a child, I was always curious about this stuff and my mother was always very repressive.

"My mother was always deeply disapproving of the idea of anyone knowing about their ancestors. She'd say, 'It doesn't prove a thing, dear'.

"I think it was because on my mother's mother's side there's quite a bit of posh, and my mum thought I'd grow up to be a terrible snob," she continued before jokingly adding: "But I've already grown up to be a terrible snob, so really there's nothing to hide."

Previously speaking to Express.co.uk about her regal relations, Anne said: “I’m actually descended from Robert the Bruce’s great-granddaughter who married one of my ancestors. So that’s how that worked out.”

When asked whether this new discovery in her lineage changed anything, Anne joked: “I’ve always felt regal. Nothing could possibly make me feel more regal. But it’s kinda cool. I mean practically everyone is related to the Queen, let’s face it.

“But it was actually nice to see the family tree played out and see how I was related. Princess Elizabeth Stuart married Sir Thomas Hay. And he’s direct descendants of John Hay, was my great-great-great grandfather, so that’s how it works.”