The SCANDALOUS Life of Prince Albert Victor | The Lost King

Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (1864–1892), known as "Eddy" within his family, was the eldest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Despite being second in line to the British throne from birth, he never became king or Prince of Wales due to his untimely death.
Eddy had a diverse early life, traveling the world as a Royal Navy cadet and later joining the British Army, though he didn't actively serve. He had two unsuccessful courtships before becoming engaged to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck in late 1891, only to tragically succumb to illness during a major pandemic shortly thereafter.

His life has been shrouded in mystery, with speculations about his intellect, sexuality, and mental health. Some unfounded rumors linked him to scandals like the Cleveland Street affair and even suggested he might be Jack the Ripper. However, contemporaneous records disprove these claims.


Early Life:
Born prematurely in 1864, Albert Victor was the first child of the Prince of Wales and his wife, named after his grandparents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Despite his formal title, he was affectionately called "Eddy" by his family.


Education:
Albert Victor's early education was alongside his younger brother, Prince George, under the tutelage of John Neale Dalton, starting in 1871. Dalton's rigorous program covered academics, physical activities, and military drills, but Albert Victor's intellectual progress was deemed slow, attributed to uninspiring teaching.
Despite learning Danish and overcoming language barriers, his academic performance remained sluggish. Speculations about the impact of his mother's deafness or physical factors were considered.
In 1877, both brothers joined HMS Britannia for naval training, but Albert Victor fell behind due to illness. In 1879, they began a three-year naval cadet tour on HMS Bacchante, traveling extensively across the British Empire, including stops in the Americas, the Falkland Islands, and more, even receiving tattoos in Japan.
Afterward, in 1883, Albert Victor and Prince George pursued separate paths. Albert Victor attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where his academic interest waned. He engaged in social life and made connections with notable figures, but it's unclear if he had any sexual experiences during this time.
In 1885, he joined the 10th Hussars, serving in various roles. Despite disliking drilling activities, he enjoyed polo. His academic challenges didn't hinder his promotions, eventually becoming a captain.
During this period, his private life was uneventful, despite fellow officers' efforts to introduce him to the world, which he resisted.


Cleveland scandal
In July 1889, a male brothel in Cleveland Street, London, was uncovered by the Metropolitan Police, revealing clients' names, including Lord Arthur Somerset, an Extra Equerry to the Prince of Wales. At the time, all homosexual acts between men were illegal, carrying potential consequences like social ostracism and up to two years' hard labor in prison.
The scandal implicated high-ranking individuals, sparking rumors that Prince Albert Victor was involved. Though the prostitutes didn't directly implicate him, it's believed Somerset's solicitor, Arthur Newton, may have spread these rumors to divert attention. Reports emerged in December 1889 that the Prince and Princess of Wales received anonymous letters related to the scandal. The Prince of Wales intervened, and no clients were prosecuted. Concrete evidence against Albert Victor never emerged. Some speculate about his involvement, but historian H. Montgomery Hyde found no evidence supporting claims of homosexuality or bisexuality.
While English newspapers avoided linking the Prince directly to the scandal, international press coverage, particularly in Welsh, colonial, and American newspapers, was less restrained. Lord Waterford, Somerset's sister, and Somerset himself denied Albert Victor's involvement. Rumors persisted, but no one involved in the original case was convicted of perjury or struck off during the Cleveland Street scandal.

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