Figure 1.--Prince John is seen here in the white sailor suit that he so commonly wore. The image in the BBC production "The Lost Prince".

The BBC in 2002 produced a fascinating multi-episode series based on the life of Prince John, the youngest son of King George V and Queen Marry. Prince John is one of the least discussed prince in British history. Another was, the prince's uncle had he survived--Albert Victor, the eldest son of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The two were both quietly burried on the Sandringham estate. Prince John was the sixth and last child of King George V and Queen Mary. John was was born in 1905 and is the least known of George V's five sons because of his tragically short life. John was an epileptic. It is also alleged that he suffered from some form of mental retardation. He was a special favorite of his grandmother, Quenn Alexandra, perhaps because of his handicaps. He was finally separated from the family where he was cared for by his devoted nurse, Lala Bill. He died in his 13/14th year after an epileptic seizure. HBC has not yet seen the BBC production. As a result, we do not know how the relatiinship between the Prince and his parents was handled. Nor do we kmnow how the relationship with his brothers was dealt with. Prince John was especially close to his brother Prince George. His grandmother Queen Alexandra was reportdly espcially close to him. Many portraits show Prince John wearing dresses and kilts. Available image from the program primarily show him wearing sailor suits with kneepants. A HBC reader tells us, "Regarding dresses, there were none. It was sailor suits all the way." The Prince is often shown in Jack Tar caps with his sailor suits.

Filmology

The BBC in 2002 produced a fascinating multi-episode series based on the life of Prince John, the youngest son of King George V and Queen Marry. As the production was pasrtially financed in America, it will soon appear in America, either on PBS or one of the cable networks. It is directed by Stephen Poliakoff.

Little Known

Prince John is one of the least discussed prince in British history. Another was, the prince's uncle had he survived--Albert Victor, known as Johhny in the family, the eldest son of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The two were both quietly burried on the Sandringham estate. Queen Mother Alexandra confied with her daughter-in-law Queen Mary that their two little Johnies were laid side by side.

Setting

The profuction is based on the actual life of Prince John. The drama and Prince John's life is set against the backdrop of one of the momentous periods in European history, the period leading up to World war I and the War years. The production provides a view of both King George V and Queen Mary. John was diagnosed as an epileptic and waa proabaly also autistic. The drama presents events from the boy's his disarmingly honest point of view. The production stars Miranda Richardson, Tom Hollander, Gina McKee, Frank Finlay and Michael Gambon.

The Real Prince John

Prince John was the sixth and last child of King George V and Queen Mary. John was was born in 1905 and is the least known of George V's five sons because of his tragically short life. John was an epileptic. It is also alleged that he suffered from some form of mental retardation. He was a special favorite of his grandmother, Quenn Alexandra, perhaps because of his handicaps. He was finally separated from the family where he was cared for by his devoted nurse, Lala Bill. He died in his 13/14th year after an epileptic seizure.

Historical Issues

HBC has not yet seen the BBC production. As a result, we do not know how the relationship between the Prince and his parents was handled. Here there is considerable historical debate. Some picture King George as a virtual ogre with his children. His eldent son Edward VIII in particular was bitter about his father and how he was raised. Others take a more sympathetic view of George V. There is also much discussion of Queen Mary as a mother. The issue is of considerable historical importance. Surely the reltionship betwwn George V and his elsdest son was a factor in Edward VIII's abdigation. We also do not know how the relationship between Prince John and his brothers was dealt with. Prince John was especially close to his brother Prince George. His grandmother Queen Alexandra was reportdly the only other member of the royal family that was especially attached to him.

Figure 2.--Prince John continued to wear sailor suits as an older boy and young teenager.

Costuming

Many portraits show Prince John wearing dresses and kilts. The first part opened with Prince John aged 5 or 6 years of age attending his grandmother's birthday party wearing a sailor suit. I am not positive when Prince John was breached, but he looks to still be wearing dresses at age 5. A British reader writes, "He would have looked odd in a dress!". But surely because this is because of the strength of modern dress conventions. Available image from the program primarily show him wearing sailor suits with kneepants and long pants. A HBC reader tells us, "Regarding dresses, there were none. It was sailor suits all the way." The Prince is often shown in Jack Tar caps with his sailor suits.

Boys Dresses in TV and Movies

Movie and TV productions vary greatly as to the accuracy of historical ptoductions. TV as well as low-budget movie productions often have serious inaccuracies in the costuming. Many British TV productions, especially BBC productions quite often go to great pains to be historically accurate. The one exception here is boy dresses and other skirted garments. We are unsure why this is. It could not be that the costume designers were not aware that bys in the 19th nd early 20th century did not wear dresses. The costume designer here must have reviewed the many available photogrphic portraits of Prince John and the royal family, many of which show the Prince wearing dresses and skirted sailor suits. As to why Prince John was not accurately depicted we do not know. We understand that movies and TV shows meant to appeal to boys might be affected, but we do not understand why a serious production with otherwise accurate historical costuming would have not shown the young Prince John in dresses andother skirted garments.

Reader Comments

A reader writes, "I have been most interested in your extensive website on the British Royal Family. There has recently been a television series broadcast here telling the story of "Johnny", one of George V and Queen Mary's children, who evidently was of "simple" mind and kept largely out of the public eye. The series only portrayed the King and Queen with two children, Georgie and Johnny, whereas in fact, there were six of them. I would like to know if you have more detailed information on the rest of the kids. -- Andrew" [HBC note: I believe that the producer was stressing the fact that Georgie was especially close to Johnny, in part because they were the cloest in age of the children. We have developed considerable informatioin on King George's and Queen Mary's children on the HBRC web site.

Created: January 15, 2003
Last updated: August 9, 2003