French royalty didn’t die with the revolution.

Most people believe the guillotine ended all royal bloodlines in France. Schools teach us that 1793 marked the final chapter of the French monarchy. But this common belief leaves out a crucial part of the story.

Hundreds of royal descendants walk among us today, carrying royal French last names, and some don’t even know their true heritage

What Happened to the Royal French Family

The French Revolution didn’t exactly send out polite resignation letters to the royal family. Instead, it was more like a very dramatic, very permanent pink slip.

But not everyone lost their heads (literally), and some managed to slip away before the guillotine got too busy.

The French Revolution of 1789 was basically the ultimate “you’re fired” moment for royalty. King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette? They got the worst possible ending. But their story isn’t where the bloodline ends.

• The Great Escape Artists: Some royal family members were pretty smart about reading the room. They packed their bags and left France before things got too heated.
• What About the Kids?: Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette had four children. Their son Louis XVII died young in prison. Their daughter Marie-Thérèse survived and later married. She had children, keeping the bloodline going
• The Survivors’ Network: The royal family tree had many branches. When the main trunk was cut down, the side branches continued to grow in other countries. These relatives had kids, who had kids, and so on.

A Walk Down the Lanes of History

People often think, Why France no longer has a royal family? when they read about the French monarchy.

After the Revolution, different groups kept trying to bring back the monarchy, but it didn’t really stick; however, the families sure tried hard to make it happen.

Napoleon’s Interruption (1804-1814)

Napoleon basically said, “Thanks, but I’ll be emperor now.” He kicked out the republic and started his own royal-ish dynasty. The old royal families were not thrilled about this plot twist.

The Restoration Attempts (1814-1830)
After Napoleon’s defeat, the Bourbon family came back! Louis XVIII became king, followed by Charles X. However, the French people had grown accustomed to life without a monarch. It was awkward for everyone.

More Royal Musical Chairs (1830-1848)

The July Revolution brought in Louis-Philippe from a different branch of the royal family. He tried to be the “citizen king”, essentially a royal figure, but made it casual. It didn’t work either.

The Final Curtain Call (1848)

The 1848 Revolution said “nope” to monarchy for good. Louis-Philippe abdicated, and France became a republic again. No more kings after that, but the families? They stuck around.

The French Royal Family Today

There are actually multiple families claiming to be the “real” French royalty today! It’s like having several people show up to the same job interview, all insisting they already got hired.

The drama never really ended; it just moved to family reunions and fancy dinners.

The Main Contenders: Think of it like a royal custody battle that’s been going on for centuries. Two main families are still out there, each insisting they’re the rightful heirs to a throne that doesn’t technically exist anymore.

House of Bourbon (Legitimist Branch): Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou, lives in Spain, claims he’s the rightful King of France, and has two daughters to continue the bloodline

House of Orléans (Orléanist Branch): Jean, Count of Paris, heads this family from France, descended from the last actual French monarchs, and stays active in French society

The Reality Check: Neither family will ever rule again since France’s constitution makes it a republic, but they still keep their titles and attend royal events abroad

Modern Royal Life • These descendants live normal lives with regular jobs and charity work – they’re just regular people with incredibly fancy family histories

Conclusion

So does the French royal bloodline still exist? Absolutely! In fact, there are several branches of it alive and well today.

These families might not have political power, but they’ve got something potentially more valuable: really good stories at dinner parties and the most complicated family trees you’ve ever seen.

The French Revolution ended the monarchy, but it couldn’t erase the DNA of the French people. Royal blood kept flowing through generations, even without crowns to go with it.

Today’s descendants are regular people living regular lives, just with some extra-fancy ancestors and probably really good posture