Had the eldest son of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of Britain survived, British history and perhaps world history would have been very different. Queen Elizabeth II's grandfather, King George V, would not have become king and, had the crown fallen to this particular individual we are about to discuss, perhaps the British monarchy might have been swept away with the rest of Europe's major thrones in the aftermath of the First World War.
Albert Victor Christian Edward - named for his paternal grandfather, Prince Albert; his paternal grandmother, Queen Victoria; his maternal grandfather, King Christian IX of Denmark; and his father, Albert Edward - was born January 8, 1864. He was titled Prince Albert Victor of Wales, as his father was then the Prince of Wales, but to his entire family and to most biographers later on, he was known as "Eddy".
From an early age, it was clear that Eddy was a most peculiar specimen. When Eddy and his brother, Prince George (just seventeen months younger) began their education with a private tutor, the tutor noted to the Prince and Princess of Wales that while their son George was progressing along at a fine, if unremarkable, pace, there was something sluggish about Eddy's mental development. Many historians believe that Eddy's premature birth as well as a possible case of petit mal, or absence seizures, were at the root of Eddy's learning disabilities. As Eddy and George both grew older, it was agreed that the two brothers should continue to be educated together, as one tutor believed it was Prince George who helped to stimulate Eddy's otherwise listless mind.
Eddy's private life also made him the subject of scandal. In 1889, the London police uncovered a male brothel on Cleveland Street. In a time when homosexual acts were outlawed, the raid made headlines as a number of men in British high society were implicated in the scandal. During this time arose the rumor that a member of the British royal family had frequented the Cleveland Street brothel, and the name that came forward was Eddy's. Though none of the male prostitutes in the brothel had ever named Eddy as a client, there was a great deal of talk that seemed to suggest his frequent presence there. Eventually, the Prince of Wales intervened and Eddy was never officially prosecuted or questioned in the investigation, but this forever tainted his image with later biographers.
Perhaps most intriguing were the rumors that Eddy might have been Jack the Ripper. These claims were not officially published about until the 1960s- over seven decades after his death- but it seemed that the mystery surrounding prince's controversial lifestyle provided enough ammunition for a number of authors to explore the possibility that Queen Victoria's grandson might have been the most notorious serial killer of 19th century Britain. At the time that the Ripper's first victims were murdered, however, Eddy was in Balmoral visiting family, a fact that diaries and letters from other relations can confirm.
When the rest of his family began to realize the severity of Eddy's weak constitution and dissipated life, his father and grandmother felt that a suitable, sensible wife would be the proper anchor he needed. Queen Victoria suggested another of her granddaughters, Princess Alix of Hesse. Alix, in Victoria's opinion, showed great internal strength, and her widely-acknowledged beauty would certainly appeal to her wayward grandson. The queen was right, and Eddy dully began corresponding with his cousin Alix. Alix, however, was not the least bit interested in Eddy, and though she was wholly devoted to her grandmother, she resisted Victoria's influence on the matter and politely turned down Eddy's marriage proposal. Princess Alix would later become Empress of Russia when she married her lifelong love, Tsar Nicholas II. Eddy then pursued a romance with Princess Helene of Orleans, daughter of the pretender to the French throne. The couple were deeply in love, but Helene was a Catholic, and unless she converted, Eddy would automatically lose his place in the British succession if he married a Catholic. Helene offered to convert, but she was dissauded by her father and by Pope Leo XIII.
Finally, Princess Mary of Teck was brought forward. She was, in Queen Victoria's words, "charming, sensible and pretty", and the daughter of the penniless Duke of Teck and Queen Victoria's cousin, Prince Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. Eddy and Mary were engaged, but just weeks later Eddy caught influenza and suddenly died at the age of 28. In his place, Eddy's brother George became second-in-line to the throne and later was crowned King George V.
His family was devasted- the Prince of Wales told his mother "Gladly would I have given my life for his", and the Princess of Wales never fully recovered from his unexpected demise. Yet there were many who whispered behind closed doors that by Eddy's death, the stability of the monarchy was secure. George was sensible and dutiful, and, in the opinion of most, succeeded where Eddy would most likely have failed. In addition to inheriting his place in the line of succession, George also inherited Eddy's fiancee. About a year after Eddy's death, Princess Mary of Teck was engaged to Prince George, and their marriage would prove to be a solid and happy one.
Albert Victor Christian Edward - named for his paternal grandfather, Prince Albert; his paternal grandmother, Queen Victoria; his maternal grandfather, King Christian IX of Denmark; and his father, Albert Edward - was born January 8, 1864. He was titled Prince Albert Victor of Wales, as his father was then the Prince of Wales, but to his entire family and to most biographers later on, he was known as "Eddy".
From an early age, it was clear that Eddy was a most peculiar specimen. When Eddy and his brother, Prince George (just seventeen months younger) began their education with a private tutor, the tutor noted to the Prince and Princess of Wales that while their son George was progressing along at a fine, if unremarkable, pace, there was something sluggish about Eddy's mental development. Many historians believe that Eddy's premature birth as well as a possible case of petit mal, or absence seizures, were at the root of Eddy's learning disabilities. As Eddy and George both grew older, it was agreed that the two brothers should continue to be educated together, as one tutor believed it was Prince George who helped to stimulate Eddy's otherwise listless mind.
Eddy's private life also made him the subject of scandal. In 1889, the London police uncovered a male brothel on Cleveland Street. In a time when homosexual acts were outlawed, the raid made headlines as a number of men in British high society were implicated in the scandal. During this time arose the rumor that a member of the British royal family had frequented the Cleveland Street brothel, and the name that came forward was Eddy's. Though none of the male prostitutes in the brothel had ever named Eddy as a client, there was a great deal of talk that seemed to suggest his frequent presence there. Eventually, the Prince of Wales intervened and Eddy was never officially prosecuted or questioned in the investigation, but this forever tainted his image with later biographers.
Perhaps most intriguing were the rumors that Eddy might have been Jack the Ripper. These claims were not officially published about until the 1960s- over seven decades after his death- but it seemed that the mystery surrounding prince's controversial lifestyle provided enough ammunition for a number of authors to explore the possibility that Queen Victoria's grandson might have been the most notorious serial killer of 19th century Britain. At the time that the Ripper's first victims were murdered, however, Eddy was in Balmoral visiting family, a fact that diaries and letters from other relations can confirm.
When the rest of his family began to realize the severity of Eddy's weak constitution and dissipated life, his father and grandmother felt that a suitable, sensible wife would be the proper anchor he needed. Queen Victoria suggested another of her granddaughters, Princess Alix of Hesse. Alix, in Victoria's opinion, showed great internal strength, and her widely-acknowledged beauty would certainly appeal to her wayward grandson. The queen was right, and Eddy dully began corresponding with his cousin Alix. Alix, however, was not the least bit interested in Eddy, and though she was wholly devoted to her grandmother, she resisted Victoria's influence on the matter and politely turned down Eddy's marriage proposal. Princess Alix would later become Empress of Russia when she married her lifelong love, Tsar Nicholas II. Eddy then pursued a romance with Princess Helene of Orleans, daughter of the pretender to the French throne. The couple were deeply in love, but Helene was a Catholic, and unless she converted, Eddy would automatically lose his place in the British succession if he married a Catholic. Helene offered to convert, but she was dissauded by her father and by Pope Leo XIII.
Finally, Princess Mary of Teck was brought forward. She was, in Queen Victoria's words, "charming, sensible and pretty", and the daughter of the penniless Duke of Teck and Queen Victoria's cousin, Prince Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. Eddy and Mary were engaged, but just weeks later Eddy caught influenza and suddenly died at the age of 28. In his place, Eddy's brother George became second-in-line to the throne and later was crowned King George V.
His family was devasted- the Prince of Wales told his mother "Gladly would I have given my life for his", and the Princess of Wales never fully recovered from his unexpected demise. Yet there were many who whispered behind closed doors that by Eddy's death, the stability of the monarchy was secure. George was sensible and dutiful, and, in the opinion of most, succeeded where Eddy would most likely have failed. In addition to inheriting his place in the line of succession, George also inherited Eddy's fiancee. About a year after Eddy's death, Princess Mary of Teck was engaged to Prince George, and their marriage would prove to be a solid and happy one.
He was not Jack the Ripper. It has been proven.
ReplyDeleteI know he wasn't jack the ripper he was murdered
DeleteNo proof about that Prince Eddy would bring Britain into a brink of republic but in fact, nothing shameless act of George V wouldn't allowed his Russian cousins, Tsar Nicholas II to enter Britain, but I am sure Prince Eddy would allow his Russian cousin to take refuge in Britain as British public had a great pride in their British Royal Family, there was proof that during the preparation for Prince Eddy's wedding at his shopping trip was cheered by the crowds whenever they went. Even the Royal Family and the British public mourned for his unexpected death, what if George V really bring Britain into republic people would just say 'what a shame thing that eddy died so young'. His innocent always been diminished by the notorious sex scandals of Cleveland Street was played down by the abbreviations 'PAV', the solicitor who was responsibility for the written abbreviation never actually name Eddy but people made an assumptions that finally entrenched ath turned of the century, the once crack and bottom Prince that was well known and respected during his lifetime was turned into an unexpected and entrenched involvement, innocently of a notorious scandal that he himself was unaware of at the course of his Royal public engagement. Eventually it became a Hollywood blockbuster 'From Hell', the well loved Prince finally gone to Hollywood due to the hunt for the holy grail of the modern first serial killer in the 19th century, Jack The Ripper which was a real industry at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century backed in the 50s and 60s Britain that turned into a conspiracy theories and a real industry that commercialised those fictitious conspiracy theories, it was truly an act of a defamation of Royal Prince that it found a willing audience. Finally, the Prince's intelligence was a myth as he showed some intelligence about his political stance especially the Irish Home Rule that he managed to give a good opinion that he was a radical freethinker of his time whereby he could enjoyed his political games of opinion and view that the Royal Family unable to enjoy at that time.
ReplyDeleteThis article is absolute rubbish and continues to pedal the version of events which were false propaganda to disparage the dead Prince Eddy and promote what we were left with - his younger brother who was then heir to the throne and the future George V . It is well lnown that George was the slow badly educated one with learning and concentration difficulties - NOT Prince Eddy . All Georges short comings have been made to be Eddys and all Eddys talents have been attributed to George . Prince Eddy was Queen Victorias oldest and best loved grandchild . He was extremely popular handsome charming educated and very entertaining in conversation . George was very dull and listless and badly adjusted . He became a cruel tyrant to his children and everything was done to try to make him popular because as I said he was what we were left with after the all too soon tragic death of his amazing brother who would have made an exceptional king . He would have helped his Russian cousins unlke George who was afraid of public opinion which would actually have supported giving the cousins assistance if push had come to shove and any approval had been sought . Stop repeating this false garbage when it has all been disproved decades ago . George was not fit to be a servant to Prince Eddy .
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see Simone stepping up with some enthusiasm about the exploitation of Prince Eddy’s name, his absence from historic records and any longevity that might’ve terstified to his character. The letters released in the book of Prince Michael of Greece (great grand nephew of Princess Helene of Orleans) show a sharp, sensitive, loving young man who was secure enough to communicate his feelings to a woman. His feelings were pristine and honest. Whether he loved her or not is not the subject, but certainly he held her feelings for him dear for it was known she was enamoured with him back when he was still pursuing Princess Alixy of Hess. Prince Eddy was clearly a reserved character, a Capricorn who found little sense in advertising his mind and heart; he had an apathetic father which further depve his naturally introverted nature. Concluding that he was “slow” from that is pitifully short sighted. The one problematic aspect of his story to me was the destruction of his records from within the Royal House (this was attributed to his aunt Princess Beatrice daughter to Queen Victoria). I am not sure why that happened. If anyone, it was Edward VII (his father) who had led a dissipated life. Or was the shade of homosexuality to dark to bear? True or not, at least Eddy was still single and had the freedom to a degree to enjoy his youth, unlike his father who violated his marriage to the stunning Queen Alexandra every way he could. I also have my doubts about his death. Injecting him with Stricnin in small doses while bedridden with the flu may be argued to enhance his immunity; but who could guarantee what doses those were and what hands dumbled in the dark with the young prince in his sickness bed?
ReplyDelete*someone not Simone.
ReplyDeleteWell said Taha..I agree...Eddy was also a Freemason,and from what I can gather from news of him in the 19th century he was shy but honest and never had a bad word to say about anybody. He was interested in politics which of course he could not discuss in public ,and toured Australia with his younger brother George as a teenager and as an adult in India with great success before his untimely death.
ReplyDelete