Meghan Markle recently stepped out into the public eye and ended up coming forth with some family surprises. While the Duchess of Sussex was presumably there to enjoy baseball with her Prince, it turns out she was also silently cheering for a relative she likely assumed existed only in genealogical footnotes. Evidently, the Markle family can pop up in the most unexpected of places, even amid the electric energy of a packed stadium.

When royalty cheers, it is usually for crowns, and not for stolen bases. But Meghan Markle found herself rooting for a distant cousin who swaps not just baseball, but golden gloves.

Meghan Markle may have made it to the matches on her own tickets, but turns out it was also to cheer on a familial connection she has: One with Dodgers star Markus Lynn Betts, known to fans as Mookie Betts, at the World Series as well. The two happen to be distant cousins—not just by happenstance, but through a tangled web of ancestral ties dating back to 19th-century Alabama. The lineage, in fact, traces back to when Markle's great-great aunt married Mookie’s great-great uncle, according to PEOPLE, making family reunions at America’s pastime slightly more literal than most. 

Peeling back the layers on PEOPLE's retelling, the census evidence from the late 1800s revealed where Meghan Markle’s ancestors and Betts’ ancestors lived just a few houses apart—on a plantation owned by Elisha Betts. Although the degree of kinship may require a genealogist to use a magnifying glass, the lineage is real. This story has been known since 2018, when the cousins famously met in London. The World Series appearance brought this quiet family myth into the spotlight once again.

Exploring Meghan Markle’s Face Lift Allegations: Here’s What Experts Have to Say

Multitasking royalty? Meghan Markle manages baseball cheers and global branding with effortless flair—and zero potato salad.

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle’s recent agenda reads like a PR mogul’s itinerary: from Paris Fashion Week to star-studded summits and California sunshine, the Duchess has been building a solo brand that blends style with substance. Her World Series date night with Prince Harry had been a rare mix of casual spectator and low-key celebrity, complete with Instagram stories that celebrated cousin Mookie’s Golden Glove accolade. 

Ultimately, Markle’s World Series attendance was more than just a celebrity cameo—it was a reminder that family ties can crop up in the most unlikely scenarios. Royals and ballplayers, fashion weeks and baseball games: her world is a mashup of elegance and unexpected connections. It certainly makes one wonder where the Markle family tree will pop up next. Probably somewhere equally dazzling, or mildly bewildering, all equally watered and nourished.

Meghan Markle to Attend London Fashion Week 2026? Traders Are Abuzz With Online Betting

What do you think of Meghan Markle and Mookie Betts' genealogical lineup? Let us know in the comments below!