Charlotte Bill
Encyclopedia
Charlotte Jane "Lalla" Bill (1875–1964) was a nanny
to the children of the Duke
and Duchess of York
, later King George V and Queen Mary. She was most closely linked with the couple's youngest child, Prince John
, whom she nursed devotedly from 1905 until his death in 1919.
, to the point where he became ill as a result. The head nurse had originally been a nursemaid to The Duke and Duchess of Newcastle
, and earned a good reference. However, when Lalla expressed her concerns, it was revealed that the woman was childless after her husband deserted her, and was therefore suffering from a warped and frustrated maternal instinct. She was promptly dismissed in 1897 and Lalla was appointed in her place.
As the children grew up, she became especially close to the youngest child, Prince John, who suffered from epilepsy
, and learning difficulties caused by possible autism
. Although the Prince originally stayed at York Cottage, the compact residence of his mother and father, a separate household was established for him in 1917, and they moved to nearby Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate. Lalla nursed Prince John (Johnnie as he was called in the family) until his death from a severe epileptic seizure on 18 January 1919, following the end of the First World War. It was Lalla who telephoned Queen Mary to inform her of his death, and she and the King travelled from Buckingham Palace
to Wood Farm to see their dead son. Lalla attended his burial at Sandringham Church, where he was interred next to Prince Alexander John of Wales
, the infant son of Queen Alexandra, Johnnie's grandmother.
noticed that the first object he saw when he walked into Lalla's house was a large photo of Johnnie as a toddler on her fireplace mantel
.
, where she is played by Gina McKee
. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0571160/
Nanny
A nanny, childminder or child care provider, is an individual who provides care for one or more children in a family as a service...
to the children of the Duke
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Duchess of York
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
, later King George V and Queen Mary. She was most closely linked with the couple's youngest child, Prince John
Prince John of the United Kingdom
The Prince John was a member of the British Royal Family, the youngest son of King George V and Queen Mary. The Prince had epilepsy and consequently was largely hidden from the public eye.-Early life:...
, whom she nursed devotedly from 1905 until his death in 1919.
Employment
Lalla began her employment as the under-nurse to the York children. Working under the head nurse, she was shocked at the nurse's treatment of the royal children. The nurse appeared to resent every new addition to the nursery, and neglected the second son, Bertie, later King George VIGeorge VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
, to the point where he became ill as a result. The head nurse had originally been a nursemaid to The Duke and Duchess of Newcastle
Henry Pelham-Clinton, 7th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne
Henry Pelham Archibald Douglas Pelham-Clinton, 7th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyme was an English nobleman, styled Earl of Lincoln until 1879.Henry was educated at Eton College and then Magdalen College, Oxford....
, and earned a good reference. However, when Lalla expressed her concerns, it was revealed that the woman was childless after her husband deserted her, and was therefore suffering from a warped and frustrated maternal instinct. She was promptly dismissed in 1897 and Lalla was appointed in her place.
As the children grew up, she became especially close to the youngest child, Prince John, who suffered from epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
, and learning difficulties caused by possible autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
. Although the Prince originally stayed at York Cottage, the compact residence of his mother and father, a separate household was established for him in 1917, and they moved to nearby Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate. Lalla nursed Prince John (Johnnie as he was called in the family) until his death from a severe epileptic seizure on 18 January 1919, following the end of the First World War. It was Lalla who telephoned Queen Mary to inform her of his death, and she and the King travelled from Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
to Wood Farm to see their dead son. Lalla attended his burial at Sandringham Church, where he was interred next to Prince Alexander John of Wales
Prince Alexander John of Wales
Prince Alexander John Charles Albert of Wales was the youngest son and sixth child of Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and his wife Princess Alexandra, Princess of Wales and grandson of Queen Victoria and Christian IX of Denmark.-Life:Prince Alexander John Charles Albert of Wales was born...
, the infant son of Queen Alexandra, Johnnie's grandmother.
Life after Johnnie
She remained devoted to the memory of the young prince right up to her own death in the 1960s when she was approaching her nineties. On one visit to her house, The Duke of WindsorEdward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
noticed that the first object he saw when he walked into Lalla's house was a large photo of Johnnie as a toddler on her fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fireplace, and can include elaborate designs extending to the ceiling...
.
Legacy
Her character appears in the film The Lost PrinceThe Lost Prince
The Lost Prince is an acclaimed British television drama serial, produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC and originally broadcast in two episodes on BBC One in January 2003...
, where she is played by Gina McKee
Gina McKee
Georgina "Gina" McKee is an English actor known for her television roles in Our Friends in the North , The Lost Prince and The Forsyte Saga ; and her portrayal of Bella in the film Notting Hill ....
. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0571160/
Sources
- Reynolds, K. D., ‘John, Prince (1905–1919)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 3 Feb 2008
- Van Der Kiste, John, George V's Children (Sutton Publishing, 2001)
ISBN 0-86299-816-6