Rare photo of the ‘lost prince’ John
A RARE photo of Prince John, the brother of King George VI and kept out of the public eye because of his disabilities, has come to light.
The 1909 image shows the “lost prince” posing with Albert – the Queen’s father, who became George VI – and the future Edward VIII.
The group portrait of all six of King George V and Queen Mary’s children was autographed by the siblings, although it is possible someone signed for John.
Seizure
John, who had epilepsy and autism, died at 13 in 1919 after a severe seizure.
He spent his final years separated from his siblings in a house on Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
In the photo, John, then four, is sitting on Prince Edward’s knee, with Princess Mary seated next to them.
Henry is standing on the far left, with Albert in the centre and George on the right. Henry and George are in sailor uniforms with the others in formal clothes. Albert took one of his middle names, George, when he succeeded Edward VIII because Queen Victoria had not wanted a King Albert to eclipse the memory of her German husband, Albert.
The photo is being sold by a private collector with International Autograph Auction, of Malaga, Spain, for £3,000 on July 22.
Auctioneer Francisco Pinero said: “It is extremely difficult to find a signed photo by all six children of King George V. Aged four, Prince John was sent to Sandringham House and kept out of the public eye, so his autograph is very rare.”
Attitudes towards mental disability a century ago were typified in a letter by Edward, Prince of Wales, penned shortly after John’s death.
He said he considered him a “brother in flesh” and “more of an animal”.
He said John’s passing was the “greatest relief imaginable” to the family.