Prince Albert Victor (Eddy)

Mmm, yes, I have sometimes wondered if more could have been done.

I think a couple of days had gone by after Eddy became ill before he was looked at by a doctor.  George had noted that Eddy had a very high temperature and the local doctor was summoned.  Until then, it had been dismissed as a minor inconvenience - "so tiresome, Eddy cannot dine...".

The pandemic outbreaks of influenza, like the one at this time seem to bring a much more virulent strain of the illness than the more isolated outbreaks.  Literally millions died in the later one just after WWI in 1918.  

I still doubt that Bertie and Alix's brood were any sicker than others of their time, even the girls.  Perhaps being under the weather got a little more attention, especially from Papa, and therefore it was exaggerated to a degree?

I still doubt that Bertie and Alix's brood were any sicker than others of their time, even the girls.  Perhaps being under the weather got a little more attention, especially from Papa, and therefore it was exaggerated to a degree?

Well, none of them lived to a very long age, especially compared with some of QV's children . . .

Yes, they didn't live into really old age...but only one of Affie's did too and that is never brought up.  :-/

Yes, they didn't live into really old age...but only one of Affie's did too and that is never brought up.  :-/

Yes, I see your point - it's the same with the Connaughts.

I think part of the view has to be because many of the Wales children were born early. This resulted in them smallish at birth. The other children--the Edinburghs, Connaughts, etc--were born on time and looked healthy from day one (for the most part). This is particularly true with Eddy--he was born at just about 7  1/2 mos and thus was frail at birth. The Wales children also took after Alexandra for the most part and had thinner frames except for George who, while average height, was robust looking. It was their appearance more than actual health issues which was commented on over their years and led to them be labelled as delicate.

As a side note, GV did achieve the oldest age of the Wales children, dying at 70. The sisters all died in their 60s.

One must keep in mind the lift expectancy back when Alexandra was having her babies was probably only 65 or so.  I sometimes wonder how Eddy could have survived at 7 1/2 months.  His lungs would not have been fully formed/functional yet.  Even a baby today under 8 months presents a few challenges.  I wonder if they may have miscounted the weeks of the pregnancy.  Alex herself was always very thin and Bertie plump until his weight went out of control in his later years.  Health, diet, climate, genetics--all factors to consider.

I may be wrong but I do not believe that any of the Edinburgh children lived to the age of 70.  

I know "Papa" Affie did not!

TampaBay

'Baby Bee' lived to 81-82 years old.

Thanks GD Ella!  

It is easy for me to forget about Baby Bee because she was several years younger than her sisters.

TampaBay

114 years ago today Eddy passed away.  

Also an update about the book by Andrew Cook--I heard it should be in UK bookshops on my birthday, January 20th!

That's a lovely pic of him on the cover.  

Thanks for the update. Amazon.com here in the US doesn't have any info. Boo! At least it can be ordered from the UK.

 :)I love the cover of the book.  I just hope the rest of the book is as good.  Does anyone know if the book will be picked up by an American publisher?

Has anyone had a chance to read the new book yet?  Comments?

Well, I've got the tent set up outside my mailbox, but nothing yet!  

I don't know, Booklady, if the book will be picked up by an American publisher.  It probably won't be for sale where I live ( ) so I ordered mine online...