Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, was the eldest son of King Edward VII and the grandson of Queen Victoria. He was second in line to the British throne, but he never became king because he died at the age of 28 in 1892. His cause of death has been a subject of debate and speculation ever since. Was it influenza, syphilis, or something else? And was he really involved in the notorious Jack the Ripper murders?
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The Official Cause of Death: Influenza
According to his death certificate, Prince Albert Victor died of “influenza: duration 21 days” at Sandringham House, the royal residence in Norfolk. He had contracted the illness during a visit to London, where a major flu pandemic was raging. He developed pneumonia and suffered from high fever, delirium, and convulsions. He passed away on January 14, 1892, surrounded by his family and his fiancée, Princess Mary of Teck, whom he had proposed to just a few weeks earlier.
The death of the popular prince was mourned by the nation and the empire. His funeral was held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and he was buried in the Albert Memorial Chapel. His younger brother, Prince George, became the new heir to the throne and later succeeded as King George V.
The Alternative Theories: Syphilis, Crohn’s Disease, or Stomach Cancer
However, some medical experts and historians have questioned the official diagnosis of influenza, suggesting that Prince Albert Victor may have suffered from a different condition that was either misdiagnosed or concealed by the royal family. Some of the alternative theories are:
- Syphilis: This theory claims that Prince Albert Victor contracted syphilis from a prostitute during a trip to the West Indies in 1889. The disease then progressed to the tertiary stage, affecting his brain and nervous system. This could explain his symptoms of fever, delirium, and convulsions, as well as his alleged involvement in the Jack the Ripper murders (see below). However, there is no conclusive evidence that he ever had syphilis or visited a prostitute. Moreover, syphilis usually takes longer than three years to reach the tertiary stage, and the prince did not show any signs of the secondary stage, such as skin lesions or hair loss.
- Crohn’s Disease: This theory suggests that Prince Albert Victor had Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory condition of the digestive tract. This could account for his symptoms of fever, weight loss, and abdominal pain, as well as his death from pneumonia, which could have been caused by a perforated bowel or an infection. However, Crohn’s disease was not recognized as a distinct condition until 1932, and the prince did not exhibit other typical signs of the disease, such as diarrhea, blood in the stool, or fistulas.
- Stomach Cancer: This theory proposes that Prince Albert Victor had stomach cancer, which could have caused his symptoms of fever, weight loss, and abdominal pain, as well as his death from pneumonia, which could have been a complication of the cancer or its treatment. However, stomach cancer is rare in young people, and the prince did not show any signs of vomiting, difficulty swallowing, or anemia, which are common in stomach cancer patients.
The Controversial Rumors: Jack the Ripper
Another source of speculation about Prince Albert Victor’s cause of death is his alleged connection to the Jack the Ripper murders, which took place in Whitechapel, London, in 1888. The Ripper was a serial killer who brutally mutilated and killed at least five prostitutes, and whose identity has never been conclusively established. There are two main versions of the theory that link Prince Albert Victor to the Ripper:
- The Revenge Theory: This theory claims that Prince Albert Victor was the Ripper himself, driven by madness and a desire for revenge against the prostitutes who had infected him with syphilis. He used his royal status and influence to evade detection and cover up his crimes. However, this theory is based on the assumption that he had syphilis, which is not proven, and that he was capable of such violence, which is not consistent with his personality and reputation. Furthermore, there is no evidence that he was ever in London at the time of the murders, as he was either abroad or at his country estates.
- The Cover-Up Theory: This theory asserts that Prince Albert Victor was not the Ripper, but he was involved in a scandal that the Ripper murders were meant to conceal. According to this theory, Prince Albert Victor had secretly married a Catholic girl named Annie Crook, who lived in Whitechapel, and had a daughter with her. The royal family, especially Queen Victoria, was outraged by this and ordered the elimination of anyone who knew about the marriage or the child. The Ripper murders were then carried out by agents of the royal family, such as Sir William Gull, the royal physician, or Sir Robert Anderson, the head of the Metropolitan Police. However, this theory is based on a dubious source, a man named Joseph Sickert, who claimed to be the grandson of Prince Albert Victor and Annie Crook, but who later admitted that he had fabricated the story. There is no evidence that Prince Albert Victor ever married or had a child with Annie Crook, or that he even knew her.
The Conclusion: A Mystery Unsolved
Prince Albert Victor’s cause of death remains a mystery that may never be solved. The official cause of death, influenza, is plausible, given the context of the flu pandemic and the prince’s symptoms. However, it is also possible that he had another condition that was either misdiagnosed or hidden by the royal family. The alternative theories, such as syphilis, Crohn’s disease, or stomach cancer, are intriguing, but lack sufficient evidence or logic to support them. The most controversial theory, that he was Jack the Ripper or involved in the Ripper murders, is sensational, but highly improbable and unsubstantiated.
The truth about Prince Albert Victor’s cause of death may lie buried with him in the Albert Memorial Chapel, or it may be revealed by future research and discoveries. Until then, he remains a fascinating figure in British history, whose life and death are shrouded in mystery and speculation.
