How were czar nicholas and Alexandra second cousins?

Czar Nicholas II of Russia and Alexandra, his wife, were second cousins through their shared descent from Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Nicholas's grandmother, Princess Mary of the United Kingdom, and Alexandra's father, King Edward VII, were siblings, making them both great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria. This familial connection illustrates the widespread intermarriage among European royal families, which often resulted in complex relationships. Thus, their lineage tied them closely, despite being from different nations.