Royal family portrait shows little boy who died at just 13
Prince Henry
John died of seizure 10 years later
Prince Edward
THIS rare photograph showing the six children of King George V and Queen Mary includes the “Lost Prince”, John, who was later kept from public view due to his epilepsy.
The 4.5ins by 3.75ins image, dated 1909, is autographed by all six siblings and is now being sold at auction.
It shows Prince John, then four, sitting on the knee of his oldest brother, who became King Edward VIII in 1936, reigning for just 326 days before abdicating to marry the divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson.
In 1919, at just 13 years old, John died after suffering a severe seizure.
In 2015, a cold-hearted letter was uncovered that had been written by Edward shortly after his brother’s death.
In it, he said he had only considered John a “brother in flesh” and “more of an animal”. He added that the family only ever visited John “once or twice a year” and that his passing was the “greatest relief imaginable” to them.
John, who is also now thought to have been autistic, had spent his final two
As George VI
Princess Mary years separated from his siblings in Poliakoff told the story of John in his Wood Farm, on the Sandringham Estate. BBC drama The Lost Prince, with Lalla
Queen Mary had supervised the decorations played by Gina McKee and Daniel and ensured John’s bedroom had Williams as the young John. a window with a view of his The photograph of John and beloved steam engines. his siblings is believed to
After dropping him off have belonged either in 1917, she wrote: “It is to a member of the very sad to see this Royal Family, a friend, great strong boy, with or a nanny. the mind of a child of It is being sold by a six, and makes one private collector with quite unhappy.” International Autograph
Prince John was Auction, of cared for at Wood Malaga, Spain, and is Farm by his nanny set to fetch £3,000. Charlotte “Lalla” Bill. Auctioneer Francisco
Award-winning writer Pinero said: “This item is and director Stephen DRAMA BBC’s The Lost Prince significant because it is
Prince George extremely difficult to find a signed photo by all six children of King George V.
“Prince John was sent to Sandringham House and kept away from the public eye, therefore his autograph is very rare.
“The photo was probably given to a member of the Royal Family, someone close to it or perhaps a royal nanny.” The sale takes place on July 22. Standing behind Prince John and Edward in the photo is Albert, who was crowned King George VI after his brother’s abdication and reigned until his death, aged 56, in 1952, when his daughter became Queen Elizabeth II.
On the far left, is Prince Henry, who was Governor-General of Australia from 1945 to 1947. He died in 1974, aged 74.
His brother Prince George, on the far right, had died in 1942, aged 39, in a military crash while serving with the RAF.
Princess Mary, who trained as a nurse in 1918, died in 1965, aged 67.
Wood Farm is where Prince Philip has spent much of his time since his retirement from public life in 2017.