Prince John of the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
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.
, on the Sandringham Estate
, Norfolk
, England
. His father was then Prince George, Prince of Wales (later King George V
), the eldest living son of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra
. His mother was Mary, The Princess of Wales (later Queen Mary)
, the eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Teck
. At the time of his birth, he was sixth in the line of succession.
The Prince was baptised 3 August 1905 at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham; his godparents were: the King of Portugal
; the Duke
and Duchess
of Sparta (his cousins); the Prince Carl of Denmark
(his cousin); Princess Alexander of Teck
(his cousin); Prince Johann of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (his namesake great-granduncle); and the Duke of Fife
(his uncle). Four of the five godfathers (the Duke of Sparta excluded) were represented by the Prince's father the Prince of Wales
, while his aunt Princess Victoria stood proxy for both godmothers.
At age 12, his condition having deteriorated, he was settled with his own household at Wood Farm
on the Sandringham Estate. He had a nanny
, Charlotte Bill
, known in the family as "Lalla". Thomas Haverly was a coachman from Windsor Castle
, chosen to drive for John because he was known to be reliable. He took the Prince on outings in the country or to the sea and to the "big house" at Sandringham when any members of the family were in residence. Wood Farm also had its own cook and a live-in maid. John had a tutor, Henry Peter Hansell (1863–1935), as well. An area of the garden was set aside for him with a plaque, "Prince John's garden", and gardeners who helped him tend it. Indoors, he had his books, a pedal car (in which he was photographed) and a ride-on train. Family photos show him riding a bicycle and a horse without assistance.
girl of similar age, who suffered from asthma and had been sent to live in the country with her aunt and uncle, George Stratton, the riding master at Sandringham. Soon after Winifred's arrival, the Strattons received a visit from Queen Mary
and the nanny (a role Victorians referred to as a nurse), who were looking for a friend for John. Winifred's delicacy probably recommended her to them and after the visit she played with the Prince almost every day. When he was ill, she sat by his bed while the nanny read to them. They went on nature walks together and worked in the garden. No date is given for Winifred's arrival but it must have happened long before the move to Wood Farm in 1917. Years later, Winifred remembered Prince John having had a bicycle chase with his first cousin Crown Prince
Olav of Norway (later King Olav V of Norway
, reigned 1957–1991).
Winifred continued to be close to John during the First World War. She remembered his excitement at watching zeppelins passing overhead at Sandringham in 1916 and his pleasure in meeting 'a real, live soldier', her father, Sergeant Frederick Thomas, who visited that same year.
, as a loving and interested parent who spent a lot of time with her son — another departure from the accepted view. A passage of the Queen's diary, written some days after John's death reads: "Miss the dear child very much indeed."
Other comments in the Queen’s diary include:
"Tuesday, January 21st 1919. Canon Dalton & Dr Brownhill conducted the service, which was awfully sad and touching. Many of our own people and the villagers were present. We thanked all Johnnie's servants, who have been so good and faithful to him."
She was genuinely moved by their loyalty and went further than simply thanking them. Thomas Haverly's daughter was given John's blackboard, which in time passed on through her own family, and Winifred was given a number of his books with Queen Mary's own hand-written inscription, "In memory of our dear little Prince." The Queen also treasured photographs of him, her own diary notes of their time together, and letters. One of these, written by John to Winifred's uncle who had broken his arm in a riding accident, reads:
"Dear Mr. Stratton, I hope your arm is better. Are you going to church? With my love from John."
was on the line, telling the Queen that John had had a severe seizure and could not be awakened. Since John turned 13, the seizures had grown worse and had become more frequent.
King George and Queen Mary immediately were driven the one mile to Wood Farm and found Miss Bill 'heartbroken but resigned', and the lifeless boy lying as if asleep on his bed.
An entry in the Queen's diary reads:
Prince John was buried 21 January 1919 at Sandringham Church (the Church of St Mary Magdalene), Norfolk.
(reigned 1199–1216) — especially his fictionalisation as the villainous Prince John in the Robin Hood
stories, has no doubt compounded concerns about the name. It was reported that Diana, Princess of Wales
, wished to name her elder son John after her own father, but was prevented from doing so by royal tradition.
According to a 2008 Daily Mail
article, "Prince John was swiftly written out of the family history. In at least one family tree issued by the House of Windsor, his name was deleted."
The dramatist Stephen Poliakoff
wrote and directed the television serial The Lost Prince
that covered many of the events that transpired on the world stage during the reign of King George V through the eyes of the youngest son, Prince John. It aired on BBC One
in 2003 and November 2009, on BBC Two
in 2006, on PBS
in 2004 and again in 2005, on Television New Zealand TV One in 2005 and on Australian Broadcasting Corporation
ABC in 2007. The title role was played by two young British actors, Daniel Williams (young Prince John) and Matthew Thomas (older Prince John). Charlotte "Lalla" Bill's character was played by Gina McKee
. The film won three Emmy Award
s.
John's story was also the subject of a Channel 4
documentary entitled Prince John: The Windsors' Tragic Secret.
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
, the youngest son of King George V
George V
George V was king of the United Kingdom and its dominions from 1910 to 1936.George V or similar terms may also refer to:-People:* George V of Georgia * George V of Imereti * George V of Hanover...
and Queen Mary
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....
. The Prince had 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 consequently was largely hidden from the public eye.
Early life
Prince John was born at York CottageYork Cottage
York Cottage is the former home of the Duke and Duchess of York , who lived in the house after their marriage in 1893. It is currently used as the Estate Office for Sandringham House. Some of the building is also used as flats for estate employees and holiday accommodation....
, on the Sandringham Estate
Sandringham House
Sandringham House is a country house on of land near the village of Sandringham in Norfolk, England. The house is privately owned by the British Royal Family and is located on the royal Sandringham Estate, which lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-History and current...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His father was then Prince George, Prince of Wales (later King George V
George V
George V was king of the United Kingdom and its dominions from 1910 to 1936.George V or similar terms may also refer to:-People:* George V of Georgia * George V of Imereti * George V of Hanover...
), the eldest living son of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra
Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
. His mother was Mary, The Princess of Wales (later Queen Mary)
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....
, the eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Teck
Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge
Princess Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth of Cambridge was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of George III, and great-grandmother of Elizabeth II. She held the title of Duchess of Teck through marriage.Mary Adelaide is remembered as the mother of Queen Mary, the consort of...
. At the time of his birth, he was sixth in the line of succession.
Carlos I of Portugal
-Assassination:On 1 February 1908 the royal family returned from the palace of Vila Viçosa to Lisbon. They travelled by train to Barreiro and, from there, they took a steamer to cross the Tagus River and disembarked at Cais do Sodré in central Lisbon. On their way to the royal palace, the open...
; the Duke
Constantine I of Greece
Constantine I was King of Greece from 1913 to 1917 and from 1920 to 1922. He was commander-in-chief of the Hellenic Army during the unsuccessful Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, in which Greece won Thessaloniki and doubled in...
and Duchess
Sophia of Prussia
Princess Sophie of Prussia was Queen of the Hellenes as the wife of King Constantine I.-Princess of Prussia:...
of Sparta (his cousins); the Prince Carl of Denmark
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
(his cousin); Princess Alexander of Teck
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone was a member of the British Royal Family. She was the longest-lived Princess of the Blood Royal of the British Royal Family and the last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria...
(his cousin); Prince Johann of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (his namesake great-granduncle); and the Duke of Fife
Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife
Alexander William George Duff, 1st Duke of Fife KG, KT, GCVO, PC, VD , styled Viscount Macduff between 1857 and 1879 and known as The Earl Fife between 1879 and 1889, was a British Peer who married Princess Louise of Wales, the third child and eldest daughter of King Edward VII and Alexandra of...
(his uncle). Four of the five godfathers (the Duke of Sparta excluded) were represented by the Prince's father the Prince of Wales
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....
, while his aunt Princess Victoria stood proxy for both godmothers.
Illness
Prince John had his first epileptic seizure at age four. He did not attend his father's coronation on 22 June 1911.At age 12, his condition having deteriorated, he was settled with his own household at Wood Farm
Wood Farm
Wood Farm is a modest cottage set in a secluded corner of the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England. It is sometimes used by members of the British Royal Family....
on the Sandringham Estate. He had a nanny
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...
, Charlotte Bill
Charlotte Bill
Charlotte Jane "Lalla" Bill 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.- Employment :Lalla began her...
, known in the family as "Lalla". Thomas Haverly was a coachman from Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
, chosen to drive for John because he was known to be reliable. He took the Prince on outings in the country or to the sea and to the "big house" at Sandringham when any members of the family were in residence. Wood Farm also had its own cook and a live-in maid. John had a tutor, Henry Peter Hansell (1863–1935), as well. An area of the garden was set aside for him with a plaque, "Prince John's garden", and gardeners who helped him tend it. Indoors, he had his books, a pedal car (in which he was photographed) and a ride-on train. Family photos show him riding a bicycle and a horse without assistance.
Companionship
It has often been said that John was lonely at Wood Farm, but this is not entirely accurate. He was provided with a companion there, Winifred Thomas, a YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
girl of similar age, who suffered from asthma and had been sent to live in the country with her aunt and uncle, George Stratton, the riding master at Sandringham. Soon after Winifred's arrival, the Strattons received a visit from Queen Mary
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....
and the nanny (a role Victorians referred to as a nurse), who were looking for a friend for John. Winifred's delicacy probably recommended her to them and after the visit she played with the Prince almost every day. When he was ill, she sat by his bed while the nanny read to them. They went on nature walks together and worked in the garden. No date is given for Winifred's arrival but it must have happened long before the move to Wood Farm in 1917. Years later, Winifred remembered Prince John having had a bicycle chase with his first cousin Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Olav of Norway (later King Olav V of Norway
Olav V of Norway
Olav V was the king of Norway from 1957 until his death. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Olav was born in the United Kingdom as the son of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud of Norway...
, reigned 1957–1991).
Winifred continued to be close to John during the First World War. She remembered his excitement at watching zeppelins passing overhead at Sandringham in 1916 and his pleasure in meeting 'a real, live soldier', her father, Sergeant Frederick Thomas, who visited that same year.
Queen Mary as a mother
Winifred Thomas remembered John’s mother, Queen MaryMary 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....
, as a loving and interested parent who spent a lot of time with her son — another departure from the accepted view. A passage of the Queen's diary, written some days after John's death reads: "Miss the dear child very much indeed."
Other comments in the Queen’s diary include:
"Tuesday, January 21st 1919. Canon Dalton & Dr Brownhill conducted the service, which was awfully sad and touching. Many of our own people and the villagers were present. We thanked all Johnnie's servants, who have been so good and faithful to him."
She was genuinely moved by their loyalty and went further than simply thanking them. Thomas Haverly's daughter was given John's blackboard, which in time passed on through her own family, and Winifred was given a number of his books with Queen Mary's own hand-written inscription, "In memory of our dear little Prince." The Queen also treasured photographs of him, her own diary notes of their time together, and letters. One of these, written by John to Winifred's uncle who had broken his arm in a riding accident, reads:
"Dear Mr. Stratton, I hope your arm is better. Are you going to church? With my love from John."
Death
Neither of John’s parents were at Wood Farm when he died unexpectedly in the early hours of 18 January 1919. At 5.30 a.m., the telephone rang at Sandringham House. Charlotte BillCharlotte Bill
Charlotte Jane "Lalla" Bill 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.- Employment :Lalla began her...
was on the line, telling the Queen that John had had a severe seizure and could not be awakened. Since John turned 13, the seizures had grown worse and had become more frequent.
King George and Queen Mary immediately were driven the one mile to Wood Farm and found Miss Bill 'heartbroken but resigned', and the lifeless boy lying as if asleep on his bed.
An entry in the Queen's diary reads:
- Lalla Bill telephoned from Wood Farm, Wolferton, that our poor darling Johnnie had died suddenly after one of his attacks. The news gave me a great shock, though for the little boy's restless soul, death came as a great release. I brought the news to George & we motored down to Wood Farm. Found poor Lalla very resigned but heartbroken. Little Johnnie looked very peaceful lying there… For him it is a great release as his malady was becoming worse as he grew older and he has thus been spared much suffering. I cannot say how grateful we feel to God for having taken him in such a peaceful way, he just slept quietly… no pain, no struggle, just peace for the poor little troubled spirit, which had been a great anxiety for us for many years ever since he was four.
Prince John was buried 21 January 1919 at Sandringham Church (the Church of St Mary Magdalene), Norfolk.
Titles and styles
- 12 July 1905 – 6 May 1910: His Royal Highness Prince John of Wales
- 6 May 1910 – 18 January 1919: His Royal Highness The Prince John
Legacy
The name "John" has been considered unlucky by the royal family and its use avoided since the death of the prince. The popularly negative historical view of the only English monarch to bear the name — King JohnJohn of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
(reigned 1199–1216) — especially his fictionalisation as the villainous Prince John in the Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
stories, has no doubt compounded concerns about the name. It was reported that Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
, wished to name her elder son John after her own father, but was prevented from doing so by royal tradition.
According to a 2008 Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
article, "Prince John was swiftly written out of the family history. In at least one family tree issued by the House of Windsor, his name was deleted."
The dramatist Stephen Poliakoff
Stephen Poliakoff
Stephen Poliakoff, CBE, FRSL is an acclaimed British playwright, director and scriptwriter, widely judged amongst Britain's foremost television dramatists.-Early life and career:...
wrote and directed the television serial The Lost Prince
The 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...
that covered many of the events that transpired on the world stage during the reign of King George V through the eyes of the youngest son, Prince John. It aired on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
in 2003 and November 2009, on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
in 2006, on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
in 2004 and again in 2005, on Television New Zealand TV One in 2005 and on Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
ABC in 2007. The title role was played by two young British actors, Daniel Williams (young Prince John) and Matthew Thomas (older Prince John). Charlotte "Lalla" Bill's character was 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 ....
. The film won three Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s.
John's story was also the subject of a Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
documentary entitled Prince John: The Windsors' Tragic Secret.