A question to those in the UK

[JUG]

The queen is a direct descendant actually. But not in the simple way (i.e. eldest born child all the way undisturbed). Whenever there was a "break" in the chain there was a swift marriage to rectify the problem. For example William the conqueror married Matilda of Flanders, a direct descendant of Alfred, and his son also married another Matilda who was also a direct descendant, ddoubly re-enforcing the lineage. The result is that Elizabeth II's lineage is, believe it or not, direct (i.e. parent to offspring) from Alfred the Great. See this tree:

http://www.britroyals.com/royaltree.htm