Figure 1.--

The royal family as Albert Victor grew up became concerned about the future of the young prince who would eventually be King of England. In this regard, his mother was always grateful to Queen Victoria for her love and understanding. Everything they tried seem to have failed. He was sent to cadet school and then to sea with his younger brother George (later George V) to learn discipline. That proved to be a disaster. Next he was sent to Cambridge in the hope of stimulating some intelectual cvuriosity. Up until his time at Cambridge, the chief problem with Prince Eddy was academic. At Oxford he was no longer supervised like a small child or around the restraininf influence of his broyther Prince George. It as at this time that larger problems began to emerge. He eventually began to frequent the dark streets of London. What he found there would have astonished the folks back home. Shortly afterwards, it was decided to send Eddy back out to sea on tours of the outer colonies until a suitable bride could be found for him.

Educational Problems

The royal family as Albert Victor grew up became concerned about the future of the young prince who would eventually be King of England. In this regard, his mother was always grateful to Queen Victoria for her love and understanding. Great efforts were made to educate Prince Eddy. Everything they tried seem to have failed. He showed no sign of eduvational progress resulting from his tutoring with Prince George. For whatever reason, Prince Eddy was beyond education. Prince Albert was frustrated with the education of Prince Eddy's father as a boy. One wonders what Prince Albert would have done with Eddy. He was sent to cadet school and then to sea with his younger brother George (later George V) to learn discipline. That proved to be a disaster. Next he was sent to Cambridge in the hope of stimulating some intelectual curiosity. It did not although it did awaken other interests.

Behavior

Prince Eddy was never a behavoral problem as a child. Apparently he was too lethargic to have caused many problems. He is said by many to have had beautiful manners. He was also a dutiful son. Queen Victoria adored him because of his nice manners and that unlike his brothers and sisters behaved very nicely when nhe visited with her. The Queen wrote to his mother, "Eddy is a dear good simple boy and there is no fear of his ever becoming undutiful to me or his parents. He is very stead inclined." As his mother's biographer explains, "Dear good and simple Prince Eddy may have been, but steady he certainly was not." [Battiscombe, p. 175.]

Greater Problems

Up until his time at Cambridge, the chief problem with Prince Eddy was academic. At Oxford he was no longer supervised like a small child or around the restraining influence of his broyther Prince George. It as at this time that larger problems began to emerge. One observer at the time put it sucinctly, "... among the few things Prince Eddy really acred for was every form of dissipationb and amusement." [Battiscombe, p. 175.] The problem became even worse after Cambridge when he joined the 10thb Hussars. He eventually began to frequent the dark streets of London. What he found there would have astonished the folks back home.

Artistic Side

Ironically credit for widening Eddy's social sphere into the most disatrous direction goes to his mother, Princess Alexandra. The Princess thought that Prince Eddy might have an artistic side. This appears to have been wishful thinking on her part. Observers at the time report that he had no serious tastes at all. At any rate, Princess Alexandra asked Walter Richard Sickert, a young painter, in 1883 to introduce Eddy to the artistic and literary society of London. She knew the Sickert, who was a fellow compatriot from Denmark, and she thought that he could take the boy around and show him the sights in order to bring him out. This proved to be an ever greater disaster than earlier efforts to guide Prince Eddy. It was in these circles that Eddy received a rather unsavoury reputation when his name became linked to the "Jack the Ripper" murders and the police-raid on the Cleveland Street brothel in 1889. The result was nearly a scandal that would have rocked the kingdom. The royal family managed to keep the Prince's involvement out of the newpaper. The Prince also met Annie Crook through Sickert.

Marriage Search

Shortly after these problems began to surface, it was decided a suitable bride had to be found for the wayward prince. Prince Eddy's parents and Queen Victoria decided that marriage night stabilize the young prince. Finding a suitable bride, however, proved to be a challenge. Several European royals were considered. Finding a bride for Eddy's father had been a problem. Finding a bride for Eddy proved to be an even more difficult one. While the search went on, Prince Eddy's behavior became an increasing problem. He was now behaving like those "wicked uncles" that had so embarassed Queen Victoria and hirt the reputation of the crown. His father was unsure has to how to deal with it. Given his many infidenlities he could hardly lecture his son on moral probrity. He conceived of the idea of sending Prince Eddy it was decided to send Eddy back out to sea on tours of the outer colonies, which he considered safer than European cities which provided all kinds of temptations. Queen Victoria objected to this idea. Eddy's father had not told his mother the true dimensions of the problem. Eddy's mother, never liking to be separated from her boys, also objected. She was convinced the best influence for her son was that of a loving mother. The Prince of Wales was becoming desperate. As a result, his parents finally decided that Princess May of Teck, which they had previously rejected because of the lowly dynastic line, would have to do. [Battiscombe, pp. 184-186.]

Sources

Battiscombe, Georgina. Queen Alexandra (Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1969).

Created: July 3, 2002
Last updated: July 3, 2002