For just £27, a simple home DNA test has unlocked a family mystery spanning generations and potentially centuries, leading one man to believe he may be descended from royalty.
From Unknown Origins to a Family Reunion
Brian Devitt, like many, had significant gaps in his personal history. He did not know the identity of his birth parents. In a review posted on TrustPilot, he explained how he decided to try a MyHeritage DNA swab kit, which was on offer for £27 as part of an extended Black Friday promotion.
After sending off his cheek swab and waiting a few weeks for the results, the process began to yield astonishing connections. Using the platform's DNA matches and online family tree tools, Brian was able to identify and connect with living biological relatives for the first time.
He discovered a half-sister, distant cousins, and entire branches of his biological family he never knew existed. According to his account, he now maintains regular contact with some of these newfound relations, transforming his understanding of his own identity.
The Royal Twist in the Tale
The story took an even more remarkable turn as Brian delved deeper into the historical records accessible through the ancestry platform. As he extended his family tree further back, he found it began connecting to lines of medieval nobility.
Most strikingly, he claims his research suggests a genealogical link leading all the way back to William the Conqueror, the Norman king who invaded England in 1066.
Experts often note that DNA alone cannot confirm a direct link to a specific historical figure from the medieval period. They point out that due to centuries of population mixing, many people of European descent will find some shared ancestry with aristocratic bloodlines if they trace their family tree back far enough.
Nevertheless, the possibility provides a captivating epilogue to a deeply personal journey of discovery.
The Power of Accessible Ancestry Testing
Brian Devitt's experience highlights the profound impact affordable genetic testing can have. For adoptees, individuals conceived via donor programmes, or anyone with unanswered questions about their heritage, these kits can be life-changing.
The MyHeritage DNA test, like others on the market, analyses ancestry across more than 2,000 global regions, revealing ethnic origins, historical migration patterns, and potential relatives.
The process is straightforward: a kit arrives by post, the user provides a cheek swab sample, sends it back, and receives detailed results online within weeks. The current sale price of £27 represents one of the lowest seen for such a comprehensive service, though the offer is due to end shortly.
This case underscores a growing trend where accessible technology is allowing people to question long-held family narratives and, in some cases, rewrite their own stories entirely.
