The latest royal bride-to-be has a connection to Kent, it has been revealed.

Meghan Markle, who announced her engagement to Prince Harry on Monday, is related to Sir Winston Churchill.

The former prime minister lived in Chartwell, Westerham.

Research by MyHeritage.com has uncovered she is related to Churchill through her father's side of the family.

Her connection to the famous British Prime Minister is as that she is his sixth cousin, five times removed, through Zachariah Howe, who came from a family of British settlers that originated from Essex.

Miss Markle is also William Shakespeare's fifth cousin, 13 times removed.

Spokesman Aaron Godfrey said of the findings: "MyHeritage.com enables anyone to discover their family history easily, so when we heard the wonderful news about Harry and Meghan's engagement, we wanted to help Meghan discover some English roots of her own.

"I'm sure she will be delighted to know that she comes from such prestigious British stock."