But if Palpatine essentially fathered Anakin through the Force, the Emperor would be the great-grandfather of Kylo Ren and the grandfather of Rey, making the pair first cousins once removed.

As of the definitive "Star Wars" canon established in The Rise of Skywalker and expanded upon in 2026 reference materials, Kylo Ren and Rey are not cousins. Kylo Ren, born Ben Solo, is the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, making him the grandson of Anakin Skywalker. Rey, however, is revealed to be the granddaughter of Palpatine (Darth Sidious). While there were many fan theories suggesting they were both Skywalkers, the "bloodline" truth is that they represent two entirely different, rival dynasties. Their connection is not familial but spiritual; they form a "Force Dyad," a rare phenomenon where two Force-sensitive beings are two halves of a single soul in the Force. This bond allows them to interact across space and time. While they are not related by blood, Rey eventually adopts the surname "Skywalker" at the end of the sequel trilogy as a tribute to her mentors, Luke and Leia, but this is a choice of legacy rather than a biological link to Ben Solo's family tree.