Prince John/Johnnie (son of George V and Queen Mary)

[mcdnab]

Queen Mary's portrayal is always very difficult. The problem that many people appear to have had over the years is the very different way in which children were brought up in the specific period. Queen Mary wasn't like her Wales' cousins, she'd not been mothered in the way her husband and his siblings were (which in many ways appears to have infantilised them - Queen Alexandra like her sister Dagmar treated her children as children long after they were grown adults), nor did she have their fondness for practical jokes and other rather silly behaviour! Even in the 1890's with her first three children she appeared as "unmaternal" or "cold" particularly during the pregnancies and that was the view of many of the Royal Family and close relatives.  I suspect she was one of those people who relate better to children as they grow older and their personalities develop. She was also deeply in awe of the institution of monarchy, her husband was also her King and that certainly impacted on her personality and her relationships with her children. George V's rigid and unbending views dominated their family life to the detriment of his children's development. Faults a plenty but mad no!

[Adagietto]

Does the Queen have a cold emotionless public image? And did the Queen Mother, for that matter? George VI was of course very shy, but I don't think he could have been regarded as cold. Prince Charles certainly isn't cold, he clearly has a sensitive and artistic vein. There seems to me to be something rather crass in the notion that people who don't go in for public displays of emotion must be cold.

[I am_Tatianochka]

Such asis shown in the film ''The Lost Prince'' did he meet OTMA?

[Eddie_uk]

written some days after John's death, 'Miss the dear child very much indeed' - a few words that encapsulate her grief and loss.

Such a sweet thing to write!

Interesting that Queen Sophie was one of John's godparents. I wonder how close she was to her cousin George V and to Queen Mary? It would be interesting to read her letter of condolence she know doubt would have sent on John's passing...

[Carolath Habsburg]

Nice io havent seen this topic.

Here a few pictures of Little John

With cousin Olav and brother George



With brothers and sister



Posted before but this one is bigger

[grandduchessella]

written some days after John's death, 'Miss the dear child very much indeed' - a few words that encapsulate her grief and loss.

Such a sweet thing to write!

Interesting that Queen Sophie was one of John's godparents. I wonder how close she was to her cousin George V and to Queen Mary? It would be interesting to read her letter of condolence she know doubt would have sent on John's passing...

I think she was a bit closer after she married Constantine as the Danish/Greek relatives were closer to the Wales family than the Prussian relations--though George did seem to have a good relationship with Henry. Constantine and Sophie were in England for the birth of the future Edward VIII and were amongst the first visitors. Sophie spent some time in England after the war and dethronements and visited, quietly, with her cousin. Her son, George II, was very close to the British royals.

There are some nice photos of John floating around various magazines/newspapers of the day that are nice to see since they show the living, breathing boy rather than the sad footnote he's become. He seemed much more 'muggy' in front of the photographers than did his siblings--almost always smiling and playful.

[Eddie_uk]

Lovely photos Katenka, thank you. I wonder if the second picture was taken at Marlbrough House as the state dining room had an entrance and steps into the garden exactly like is shown behind them.

Thank you GD Ella. I do recall a letter Sophie wrote to George V asking if he would mind if she visited England and saying she no longer goes out in society. I think it was in Born to Rule.

[miki_nastya]

 Was little Johnnie so touch of Maria Nikolaievna? Or it's just in the movie? I think it's very sweet 
     Oh..and by the way ... what was Alexei opinion abou him? After all he was just 1 year  older than Johnnie, and also suffering of a disease

[Kalafrana]

'Oh..and by the way ... what was Alexei opinion abou him? After all he was just 1 year  older than Johnnie, and also suffering of a disease'

Since Alexei was only five when they met, how likely is it that he would have remembered John very much? Also, John's epilepsy and mental condition don't seem to have become fully apparent until he was quite a lot older. Realistically, he was probably someone whom Alexei heard about from time to time via letters to his parents and people saying, 'You remember playing with Johnnie, don't you.'

[grandduchessella]

Was little Johnnie so touch of Maria Nikolaievna? Or it's just in the movie? I think it's very sweet 
     Oh..and by the way ... what was Alexei opinion abou him? After all he was just 1 year  older than Johnnie, and also suffering of a disease

I think most of the interaction was probably for the movie. Was John even present when the Russian Imperial Family came to England? His epilepsy hadn't led to him going to Wood's Farm yet but he isn't in any of the photos, at least the ones published. Of the English children, only David and Mary are in them, I believe.

[Keith]

From the Sotheby's auction book of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

[Carolath Habsburg]

Great!!! i never saw a picture of the real Johnny as a teenager. This is a proof that this picture isnt the real John

[royal_netherlands]

Prince John and his brother Prince George of Wales.

[Carolath Habsburg]

This is a very sweet image. An smiling John with his beloved Lalla

[Ian (UK)]

A link to a picture of Charlotte Bill, & some information.

http://www.nannytax.co.uk/component/content/article/415-why-charlotte