What do you think?
Rate this book
Queen Victoria's Youngest Son: The Untold Story of Prince Leopold
"This admirable biography is a moving tribute to a prince who overcame much suffering, and it gives us a better understanding both of Victoria royal history and of a family coping with disability." Daily Telegraph "One of those rare biographies that you will read again and again." Royal Book News "A poignant small masterpiece, a book that constitutes an illuminating entré into the multifaceted Victorian world." The Historian Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, was the most intelligent of Queen Victoria’s four sons. He was the youngest, a strong-willed, likeable character with an immense thirst for life who faced two overwhelming handicaps. One was haemophilia, then barely understood, which might have killed him at any moment, and in any case subjected him to recurring pain and disability. The other was his mother’s determination to keep complete control over his life. Leopold’s struggle for independence is a compelling human story, using previously unseen correspondence to explore his illness and treatment, his troubled and often stormy relationship with the Queen, and his place in the royal family. It touches on the wider worlds of Victorian Oxford and of literature, art and politics and the varied friendships he made, with Lewis Carroll, John Ruskin, Oscar Wilde, and Disraeli among others. Set against this background, Leopold’s story is a moving account of one man’s search against the odds for personal happiness and a meaningful role in the world.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Charlotte Zeepvat
7 books28 followersCharlotte studied medieval and modern history at Birmingham University and completed an MA thesis which explored the curious links between diplomacy, espionage and art collecting in the mid-seventeenth century.
Charlotte's writing career began in 1991 with Royal Digest (a magazine to which she was principal contributor throughout its 14-year existence before moving on to its successor, Royalty Digest Quarterly). Her books have included a biography of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany and two books on the Russian imperial family. The lastest is 'Before Action: William Noel Hodgson and the 9th Devons - A Story of the Great War'.
Other areas in which Charlotte has an interest are miniature painting and model making, the literature of the First World War and the history of portraiture. Royal photography is another specialist area and Charlotte has a large collection of original photographs currently represented by the Illustrated London News Picture Library and the Mary Evans Picture Library.
Charlotte's writing career began in 1991 with Royal Digest (a magazine to which she was principal contributor throughout its 14-year existence before moving on to its successor, Royalty Digest Quarterly). Her books have included a biography of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany and two books on the Russian imperial family. The lastest is 'Before Action: William Noel Hodgson and the 9th Devons - A Story of the Great War'.
Other areas in which Charlotte has an interest are miniature painting and model making, the literature of the First World War and the history of portraiture. Royal photography is another specialist area and Charlotte has a large collection of original photographs currently represented by the Illustrated London News Picture Library and the Mary Evans Picture Library.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
February 9, 2022
This is a well researched, insightful biography.
Prince Leopold was a kindhearted, intelligent young man who, sadly, was afflicted with hemophilia. Unfortunately, he was also afflicted with a jealous, manipulative, and narcissistic mother. That he was able, not only rise above an extremely painful disease to live an almost normal life, but summon the energy and will to fight his mother, Queen Victoria, so he would be allowed a measure of freedom, shows immense strength of character.
There is a type of parent who considers their children personal property, to do with as they wish, even after they're adults. Queen Victoria was such a parent. When Leopold was an adult, and thought to be slowly dying from an internal bleed, he asked to see his favorite sister Louise. The Queen refused to send for her for two weeks, delaying until Leopold was thought to be near the end, then telling Louise that she and her husband could only stay for one night and limiting their contact with Leopold to twice during the day for one hour each time. Why? Because the Queen was jealous of their close friendship. Fortunately, Leopold's doctor saw that having Louise with him brought Leopold out of his depression and this was improving his chances to survive, so he refused to restrict the length of the visits. Louise stayed a week and spent every moment with Leopold. He recovered.
It's a shame Prince Leopold didn't live a long life, as his contribution to the British royal family and the British people could have been so much greater. But in spite of his illness he managed to accomplish quite a bit, far more than some of his modern nieces and nephews who enjoy the advantage of good health. Perhaps someone should give them this biography.
Prince Leopold was a kindhearted, intelligent young man who, sadly, was afflicted with hemophilia. Unfortunately, he was also afflicted with a jealous, manipulative, and narcissistic mother. That he was able, not only rise above an extremely painful disease to live an almost normal life, but summon the energy and will to fight his mother, Queen Victoria, so he would be allowed a measure of freedom, shows immense strength of character.
There is a type of parent who considers their children personal property, to do with as they wish, even after they're adults. Queen Victoria was such a parent. When Leopold was an adult, and thought to be slowly dying from an internal bleed, he asked to see his favorite sister Louise. The Queen refused to send for her for two weeks, delaying until Leopold was thought to be near the end, then telling Louise that she and her husband could only stay for one night and limiting their contact with Leopold to twice during the day for one hour each time. Why? Because the Queen was jealous of their close friendship. Fortunately, Leopold's doctor saw that having Louise with him brought Leopold out of his depression and this was improving his chances to survive, so he refused to restrict the length of the visits. Louise stayed a week and spent every moment with Leopold. He recovered.
It's a shame Prince Leopold didn't live a long life, as his contribution to the British royal family and the British people could have been so much greater. But in spite of his illness he managed to accomplish quite a bit, far more than some of his modern nieces and nephews who enjoy the advantage of good health. Perhaps someone should give them this biography.
April 10, 2023
ROYAL READS PROJECT
September 27, 2016
I thought this was a very well researched, but ultimately not particularly readable biography of Prince Leopold. Whilst the details about his illness were interesting, I some times found myself lost in a morass of knee injuries and leg injuries and references to letters which meant I found it hard to keep track of the timeline and how time was passing relative to how often the attacks happened. The analysis of deaths of young male children among Queen Victoria's ancestors was new to me and I would have welcomed more depth in that area and in fact will probably go and look for more books on that subject as the "spontaneous" arrival of the haemophilia gene in the family has always interested me. Although Leopold's married life was short I felt that there wasn't enough information on his wife or their marriage.
There was also very little context on who some of the wider players were - it was only going on a wikipedia research run later that I realised that the Daisy Maynard who was touted as a potential bride became the Countess of Warwick and mistress to Leopold's older brother the Prince of Wales. This sort of connection (and who knows what others there might have been that I missed) are the sort of thing that really help tie in the information from a book to the wider period -whether you're like me and have read quite widely across it and across Daisy Warwick before (I'm still not quite sure how I didn't realise at the time, but in my defence it was her maiden name being used and I don't think I've ever read a biography just of her) or whether it's providing context and sparking an interest in what you'd like to explore and read about next.
But the most glaring omission for me was a chapter on his legacy - and what happened to his family after his death. Even a very short epilogue would have done, instead the book just stopped after brief details of his funeral (which was a suprise as there was still 15ish% of the book to go - I hadn't realised how much space the footnotes/references were taking up).
Ultimately the best boks are the ones which are well researched but wear it lightly and in some cases in this book I felt like the author was trying to make sure iI knew that she'd read a lot of papers before coming to these conclusions. As a history graduate I'm well used to the concept of referencing your sources, but it is possible to do this and write a history book which doesn't feel like the author is trying to ensure there's no chance of losing marks for forgetting to reference properly. This can be particularly irritating on the kindle touch - as you can accidentally hit on a reference in trying to turn the page and find yourself in the end notes and not sure which is the correct one to click on to get you back to your place as they're all references to letters and papers.
This had been on my kindle waiting to be read for a long time, and in the end, although it was ok, I was a little disappointed that I didn't learn more, particularly considering the amount of time it took to read it.
There was also very little context on who some of the wider players were - it was only going on a wikipedia research run later that I realised that the Daisy Maynard who was touted as a potential bride became the Countess of Warwick and mistress to Leopold's older brother the Prince of Wales. This sort of connection (and who knows what others there might have been that I missed) are the sort of thing that really help tie in the information from a book to the wider period -whether you're like me and have read quite widely across it and across Daisy Warwick before (I'm still not quite sure how I didn't realise at the time, but in my defence it was her maiden name being used and I don't think I've ever read a biography just of her) or whether it's providing context and sparking an interest in what you'd like to explore and read about next.
But the most glaring omission for me was a chapter on his legacy - and what happened to his family after his death. Even a very short epilogue would have done, instead the book just stopped after brief details of his funeral (which was a suprise as there was still 15ish% of the book to go - I hadn't realised how much space the footnotes/references were taking up).
Ultimately the best boks are the ones which are well researched but wear it lightly and in some cases in this book I felt like the author was trying to make sure iI knew that she'd read a lot of papers before coming to these conclusions. As a history graduate I'm well used to the concept of referencing your sources, but it is possible to do this and write a history book which doesn't feel like the author is trying to ensure there's no chance of losing marks for forgetting to reference properly. This can be particularly irritating on the kindle touch - as you can accidentally hit on a reference in trying to turn the page and find yourself in the end notes and not sure which is the correct one to click on to get you back to your place as they're all references to letters and papers.
This had been on my kindle waiting to be read for a long time, and in the end, although it was ok, I was a little disappointed that I didn't learn more, particularly considering the amount of time it took to read it.
February 1, 2015
I was a little familiar with Prince Leopold, but had no idea his life was so tragic yet triumphant. Diagnosed with hemophilia in the day when little was known about it, Leopold led a cosseted early life, surrounded by keepers But that didn't stop this gentle, courageous intellectual from fighting for a life of independence. Due to his illness and treatment at the hands of his seriously dysfunctional mother, he had great empathy for children, the disabled, and the grief stricken. Though in constant pain and a constant awareness that he might not live a long life, he was a patron of the art (he and Ruskin were great friends) and sciences, was rabidly interested in international affairs, and served, much of the time unwillingly ,as his mother's secretary/assistant who tried to control his every move. He was loved and respected by some of the great minds and politicians of the day. I think Leopold was a great man--or at least could have been if he had lived. Unfortunately , he died at the age of 30 with his wife pregnant with their second child. Leopold should be more well-known than he is. And he certainly makes the current Prince Andrew crowd look pathetic.
My only real criticism of the book that it is rather dry reading. Still it gives us a great window into Unpleasant Life with Victoria. Gak! I've read a lot about her over the years and the older I get the more I think of her as the Ruth Roman characater in The Baby.
My only real criticism of the book that it is rather dry reading. Still it gives us a great window into Unpleasant Life with Victoria. Gak! I've read a lot about her over the years and the older I get the more I think of her as the Ruth Roman characater in The Baby.
June 3, 2016
A soundly researched account, based largely on primary sources, of the brief life of Leopold, youngest son of Victoria and Albert.
Without resorting to melodrama or purple prose, Zeepvat lets the grim story speak for itself. Leopold was a hemophiliac who endured great pain, chronic invalidism, and the expectation of a short life. His miseries were enormously compounded by his mother's breathtaking narcissism and unconscious cruelty. On the one hand he was deeply depressed much of the time; on the other, his native intelligence (likened by many to that of his father) and personal charm won him many friends, particularly in the academic community. Ruskin, who was particularly close, instilled in him a social conscience, and he longed to find means of using his position and power to help others, despite almost continuous efforts by Victoria to sabotage and humiliate him (she had already decided his only role in life was to serve her as a redundant personal secretary). He finally achieved a measure of independence through marriage, only to die just before his thirty-first birthday.
Much of the tale is told through private correspondence within the family, and, in a way, none of the other books I've read has so comprehensively deglamourized the Victorian royals.
Without resorting to melodrama or purple prose, Zeepvat lets the grim story speak for itself. Leopold was a hemophiliac who endured great pain, chronic invalidism, and the expectation of a short life. His miseries were enormously compounded by his mother's breathtaking narcissism and unconscious cruelty. On the one hand he was deeply depressed much of the time; on the other, his native intelligence (likened by many to that of his father) and personal charm won him many friends, particularly in the academic community. Ruskin, who was particularly close, instilled in him a social conscience, and he longed to find means of using his position and power to help others, despite almost continuous efforts by Victoria to sabotage and humiliate him (she had already decided his only role in life was to serve her as a redundant personal secretary). He finally achieved a measure of independence through marriage, only to die just before his thirty-first birthday.
Much of the tale is told through private correspondence within the family, and, in a way, none of the other books I've read has so comprehensively deglamourized the Victorian royals.
January 3, 2017
The author had a problem of over citing and using every letter and mention to back her claims which was utterly unnecessary because 2 letters could have demonstrated the 10 she used just as well. This made the book feel tedious and overwrought. Additionally, the things the author stressed about Leopold, his exceptionalism within the family and his intelligence, could have been more weaved into his personal and married (the latter was barely mentioned) life making them seem like less two separate lives but the facets of a single person's. A glaring omission was talk about his descendants, one of which for crying out loud sits on the throne of Sweden. Overall, I hope someone comes along and re-edits this book to make it fit for reading by the public not only as a book for researchers.
Shelved as 'gave-up'
November 7, 2017Queen Victoria was the First helicopter mom a century before the helicopter was invented. I truly felt bad for poor Prince Leopold he was constantly held back by his illness and his mother. (Whaddah control freak... empress of India or no) This book is overall sad, I mean you know that the man is going to die tragically young and after years of suffering from hemophilia but the book just bogs down with insane details about who went where and why... I couldn't take anymore
May 15, 2023
A well researched and insightful biography of Queen Victoria's youngest son, Prince Leopold with a strong emphasis on the efforts of the Queen to manage every aspect of his life and how he still managed to achieve a certain degree of independence. The chapters about his intellectual interests and time at Oxford were very interesting and provided a snapshot of some of the intellectual and religious debates of the time. His hemophilia shaped his life and that of the royal family as a whole but the descriptions of individual bouts of illness become repetitive and thought perhaps his health might have been analyzed thematically in a single chapter. I would have been interested to read more about how hemophilia may have been present among Queen Victoria's ancestors as the author has some interesting insights concerning childhood mortality in her family tree. I thought the passages about Leopold's travels in Canada and the United States and his efforts to become Governor General of Canada could have been expanded as well. Although Leopold died in his thirties, he led an interesting life and this book could easily have been 100 pages longer to encompass more of his travels and the lives of his children after his death.
June 4, 2020
I was happy to find a biography on Prince Leopold because his life was cut so tragically short and I was even happier to find one written by Charlotte Zeepvat, one of my favorite authors. He bore hemophilia with dignity and strength and Zeepvat is cognizant of that but still provides a full sided picture of him. His intelligence and zest for life comes clearly through the pages. A beautiful and moving tribute to a man who became more than just another hemophilia sufferer in the royal family.
September 3, 2017
I used to have a rather unhealthy interesting in the British Royal Family. Thought I had a reasonable understanding of our royal families and was, therefore, aware of haemophilia and the impact it had on the royal families of Europe. What I had never heard about though was about the people it affected and, particularly, Prince Leopold, one of Queen Victoria's youngest sons. What this book isn't is a book about haemophilia. It's a book about a young man who had episodes of ill health and was completely asphyxiated by his controlling, bereaved (mentally unwell) mother. This is amazingly well sourced - using letters and communication between Queen Victoria and Leopold and between Leopold may other acquaintances, politicians, family members etc etc. It was written in a way that made the book completely approachable and enjoyable. Leopold seems to have been a well balanced young man, personable trying to find his own way in life and yet having that thwarted by his mother who, at best, was over protective, and at worst - controlling, manipulating, downright evil. Leopold had episodes of pain, after relatively minimal trauma, resulting in pain in joints (usually in his knee) meaning that he took to him bed for a few days, found it difficult/impossible/painful to walk. Was splinted, given morphine for pain, and gradually got back on his feet again. His mother was keep to avoid the trauma (obviously), surrounded Leopold with doctors and tried to avoid him doing anything (do nothing = no injury). Unfortunately, this became less and less tolerable to a young man who needed to be able to do things, develop his own personality and find a niche for himself in life. Queen Victoria's letters was really quite awful. Controlling, very self centred with absolutely no care for her son or for anyone else - it was all about how things could affect her and how everything should be about keeping her happy/satisfied. Siblings would write letters to their mother on Leopold's behalf to try and explain his point of view to her but she was equally unflinching to them. She really came across as a horrible woman to be quite honest, something that surprised me as history is never that open about her. She really seems to have been an unpleasant woman and incompetent mother. What saddened me was that Leopold would have lived a very different life had he been born today - his haemophilia could have been palliated. The other thing - Queen Victoria was obviously embarrassed that her son was an 'invalid' and spent periods of time needing a stick to walk or a wheel chair so stopped him going out and engaging in life. Today, he would (and rightly so) have been able to live a far more full life, even if his mobility were limited. It saddens me that Prince Leopold was bullied by his mother through no fault of his own. Yet, even with that, he seems to have been a well developed young man who was personable, achieved a lot in his short life, despite, most definitely not because, of his heritage.
October 4, 2021
372 pages
5 stars
I found myself very angry at Queen Victoria for the way she treated her son Leopold. I tried to explain some of her behavior by telling myself it was the times in which she lived, or that science and the average person didn’t know that much, if anything, about hemophilia back then. But I told myself, “No, that’s not good enough!” I believe she would have behaved the same no matter whether he was ill or not. She didn’t like Leopold from the get go. Oh, I was - and still am - mad about that.
Other than that, this is a very fine telling about the brave and tragic Leopold. He was such a bright and inquisitive young man. His life was a fight not only against disease, but also against his strong-willed and stubborn mother.
But Leopold, in spite of his mother, made strides in the arts and sciences. He explored religion - against his mother’s wishes. In fact, most of his behaviors and actions were against his mother’s wishes.
His story is told through extensive quotes from correspondence and various anecdotes by friends, acquaintances, servants, siblings and instructors.
This book is very easy to read and is very sympathetic regarding Leopold’s position both in his family and society in general. It is a wonderful read about someone I barely knew existed. I strongly recommend it to anyone who is interested in British history or just a darn good biography.
5 stars
I found myself very angry at Queen Victoria for the way she treated her son Leopold. I tried to explain some of her behavior by telling myself it was the times in which she lived, or that science and the average person didn’t know that much, if anything, about hemophilia back then. But I told myself, “No, that’s not good enough!” I believe she would have behaved the same no matter whether he was ill or not. She didn’t like Leopold from the get go. Oh, I was - and still am - mad about that.
Other than that, this is a very fine telling about the brave and tragic Leopold. He was such a bright and inquisitive young man. His life was a fight not only against disease, but also against his strong-willed and stubborn mother.
But Leopold, in spite of his mother, made strides in the arts and sciences. He explored religion - against his mother’s wishes. In fact, most of his behaviors and actions were against his mother’s wishes.
His story is told through extensive quotes from correspondence and various anecdotes by friends, acquaintances, servants, siblings and instructors.
This book is very easy to read and is very sympathetic regarding Leopold’s position both in his family and society in general. It is a wonderful read about someone I barely knew existed. I strongly recommend it to anyone who is interested in British history or just a darn good biography.
December 5, 2020
Thoroughly Enjoyable Book!
I can't praise this book enough. Beautifully and sensitively written with astounding research of original sources, usually letters, this sad tale of Prince Leopold's life should be read by anyone interested in Queen Victoria and the royal family. I agree with other reviewers that the Queen was an awful, selfish and self centered mother. She gives the word controlling a whole new meaning. That poor sweet boy and man...what suffering when he had so much intelligence, kindness and so many talents and capabilities. Hemophilia is a cruel disease yet he tried valiantly to make a meaningful life, too quickly cut short.
I can't praise this book enough. Beautifully and sensitively written with astounding research of original sources, usually letters, this sad tale of Prince Leopold's life should be read by anyone interested in Queen Victoria and the royal family. I agree with other reviewers that the Queen was an awful, selfish and self centered mother. She gives the word controlling a whole new meaning. That poor sweet boy and man...what suffering when he had so much intelligence, kindness and so many talents and capabilities. Hemophilia is a cruel disease yet he tried valiantly to make a meaningful life, too quickly cut short.
March 31, 2022
HRH Prince Leopold
HRH Prince Leopold knew he was not like the others but so desperately wanted to be. He wanted to work for his country, to make like better for the down trodden.
I had not realized just selfish Queen Victoria was, how she craved the attention she thought she deserved.
HRH Prince Leopold knew he was not like the others but so desperately wanted to be. He wanted to work for his country, to make like better for the down trodden.
I had not realized just selfish Queen Victoria was, how she craved the attention she thought she deserved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2017
I've been trying to read this book for close to two months and I'm finally just giving it up as a bad job. I've been very interested in the life of Prince Leopold for some time but this book is so dry and boring that at this point I could not possibly care less.
November 29, 2014
I am almost done with this book. it is interesting and well written.
January 15, 2017
A very detailed and enjoyable biography of one of England's lesser known princes.
January 8, 2021
A deep dive into an obscure historical prince afflicted with hemophilia. Very well written.
September 25, 2014
I have to stop reading books about Queen Victoria's mothering skills.
September 13, 2017
After reading biographies on Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, I moved onto one of their nine children.
According to historians, Prince Arthur (the 7th child) was Victoria's favorite son, while Prince Alfred ("Affie," the 4th child) was Prince Albert's. Without a doubt, my favorite of the sons is Prince Leopold (their 8th child), who was born on April 7, 1853.
Like her husband, Albert, Victoria loved all her children; and they loved her, but sometimes she was more monarch then mother. Once a private secretary recalled seeing a stampede of royal children fleeing her approach, shouting, "The Queen! The Queen!"
Although Victoria knew Leopold was a clever child, why she was so critical and overlooked his many fine qualities is puzzling to a reader. She thought him a plain-looking child ... at one time calling him the ugliest of the brood and was annoyed by his posture, which as it turns out, was probably due to stiff joints.
Prince Leopold had Albert's keen intelligence and aspiration to live a useful life. A polymath, he was a talented pianist and tenor singer. He could draw, as well as, tended his own gardens at Buckingham Palace and Osbourne. Leopold liked people (which was mutual); had his mother's feisty and sensible personality; and loved to travel to see the world when permitted to do so.
With his sister, Princess Louise, Leopold visited Canada and the United States in 1880. Even as a child he was a sympathetic listener, and as an adult became a "highly praised public speaker."*
Unfortunately, Prince Leopold inherited the condition of hemophilia B, so his blood was missing the plasma protein (F9) that allows it to clot. Throughout his life, he had episodes of severe bleeding from bumps and injuries, sometimes lying him up unable to walk for months. He also had extended periods of good health. It is striking how some of his more serious attacks (that included internal bleeding) followed emotional trauma with his mother; or occurred after the Queen blocked his path to jobs that Leopold could have done with aplomb.
Too often Victoria stifled Leopold, using his health as an excuse to keep him tied to her. But by nature, Leopold was perhaps the Queen's most independent child, and he resisted her attempts to keep him at home as an invalid. As author, Charlotte Zeepvat says, "Full of spirit, he resented his illness and wanted to fight against it."* He was smart, curious and needed to take on challenges outside of the castle. The Prince wanted to lead the life of a normal man of his class.
It is touching how his older brothers and sisters rallied for him. At one time or another, Vicky from Prussia, Bertie, Alice, Affie, Helena, Louise and Arthur all wrote letters to the Queen in support of something their younger brother wanted to pursue. Sometimes Victoria's other children and her prime ministers understood Leopold better than she did.
Only when Queen Victoria saw that her son wouldn't be put-off, did she allow him to attend Oxford University and earn an honorary degree in civil law. He thrived in his studies, despite his mother's habit of yanking him out of classes to accompany her to Balmoral.
Only when Queen Victoria saw that her son wouldn't be put-off, did she allow him to attend Oxford University and earn an honorary degree in civil law. He thrived in his studies, despite his mother's habit of yanking him out of classes to accompany her to Balmoral.
Attending Oxford University was one of the happiest periods of Prince Leopold's life. Throwing himself into university life, he studied a variety of subjects and joined a number of clubs. He loved going to concerts, operas and plays, liked actresses and met many artistic and literary elites in Victorian England. Some became lifelong friends.
Indeed, Prince Leopold stayed in touch with people from different stages of his life, from former nursery staff and old tutors to his Oxford friends. He also loved children and was a devoted uncle and godfather to his nieces and nephews, as well as, to the offspring of close friends, who named their sons, Leopold, in honor of him.
Death touched him at an early age. At 8 years old the Prince lost his father and equerry on the same day, December 14, 1861 while the little boy was recuperating from illness in France. Years later, his sister, Alice's 2-year old son, Frittie (also a hemophiliac and Leopold's godson) died of a fall from a window. The child would have lived had he not had hemophilia. That death was followed by Alice's daughter, Marie (another godchild) from diphtheria and during the same period {1878}, by Alice, herself, also of diphtheria. At Oxford, a close friend and possibly Leopold's first love, Edith Liddell (the younger sister of Alice Liddle, who was the inspiration for "Alice In Wonderland") died young. Leopold was a pallbearer.
After college, Queen Victoria thought her son should remain unmarried and at home with her. Off and on, Leopold acted as her unofficial private secretary, advising her on domestic and foreign policy. He grew to love foreign affairs, communicating with prime ministers Disraeli and Gladstone.
But Leopold had other hankerings. Not only did The Prince covet foreign appointments and peerages like his brothers, he longed for a wife and family of his own. He was a gentle, sensitive soul with qualities that would make him a loving husband. But due to his hemophilia and a suspicion (possibly false) of mild epilepsy, Leopold had trouble finding a bride. Over a two year search, several German princesses, plus an English heiress rejected him, and it was Queen Victoria (to her credit!) who had the idea of having him meet with Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont, whose German family made a favorable impression on Victoria a decade earlier.
Luckily they hit it off ... marrying (7 months after meeting) on April 27, 1882. (It didn't hurt that they had two mutual contacts who praised Leopold to the German princess.)
Helena (a/k/a Helen) was highly intelligent, warm, supportive, "full of fun and humor;"* and they had a happy although all too brief marriage. Leopold delighted in fatherhood to daughter, Alice, born in February, 1883. They lived in a relaxed and comfortable home, Claremont House, that Leopold took pleasure in decorating.
Their marriage "showed every sign of lasting and growing;"* and it breaks a reader's heart to learn that Leopold died on March 28, 1884 in Cannes, France after slipping on a tile floor and banging his knee. He went to Cannes (a warm climate) on doctor's orders to ease joint pain (a common malady with hemophiliacs) that was often brought on by the winters in the UK. Helen planned to go too, but pregnant with their second child, required bedrest. She urged Leopold to go (Febraury 21), and they wrote each other every day. In his last letter (written before he fell asleep on March 27) he asked her to join him if she could. Helen, who knew of his fall, was arranging to send Alice (their toddler daugther) to keep her father company* when she recieved word the next afternoon.
Leopold had "cheated death so many times,"* yet sadly not this last time. Sources speculate that the Prince died from the effects of morphine (administered to dull his pain) combined with a glass of claret (he was served with his dinner). Other sources say that by falling, he ruptured small veins in his head causing a cerebral hemorrhage, but the exact cause of death remains unclear. He had hurt his knee at 3:30 pm; was given morphine a couple of times in the evening. At about 2:00 am he had a seizure and died. Just 30 years old ... a promising life cut tragically short.
Robert Hawthorne Collins, a former tutor and close friend, wrote: "May we meet that gentle, loving boy again! I can think of nothing more joyful in the hereafter."*
Always aware of his mortality, Prince Leopold had a thirst for life. When he befriended individuals he wanted to introduce them to all the people and places he loved. You can't help being charmed by him, rooting for him and having your heart broken by how much he had to overcome. Most of all, he is inspiring. Not always a healthy man, but a positive and kind person, who persevered to live a full life.
*(All quotes are from the book)
I didn't mind the heavy quoting from letters as the author weaved the quotes into a story, plus gave them context with her insights as biographer. You get a great sense of Leopold (and the Queen) from his own letters in how he expressed himself.
According to historians, Prince Arthur (the 7th child) was Victoria's favorite son, while Prince Alfred ("Affie," the 4th child) was Prince Albert's. Without a doubt, my favorite of the sons is Prince Leopold (their 8th child), who was born on April 7, 1853.
Like her husband, Albert, Victoria loved all her children; and they loved her, but sometimes she was more monarch then mother. Once a private secretary recalled seeing a stampede of royal children fleeing her approach, shouting, "The Queen! The Queen!"
Although Victoria knew Leopold was a clever child, why she was so critical and overlooked his many fine qualities is puzzling to a reader. She thought him a plain-looking child ... at one time calling him the ugliest of the brood and was annoyed by his posture, which as it turns out, was probably due to stiff joints.
Prince Leopold had Albert's keen intelligence and aspiration to live a useful life. A polymath, he was a talented pianist and tenor singer. He could draw, as well as, tended his own gardens at Buckingham Palace and Osbourne. Leopold liked people (which was mutual); had his mother's feisty and sensible personality; and loved to travel to see the world when permitted to do so.
With his sister, Princess Louise, Leopold visited Canada and the United States in 1880. Even as a child he was a sympathetic listener, and as an adult became a "highly praised public speaker."*
Unfortunately, Prince Leopold inherited the condition of hemophilia B, so his blood was missing the plasma protein (F9) that allows it to clot. Throughout his life, he had episodes of severe bleeding from bumps and injuries, sometimes lying him up unable to walk for months. He also had extended periods of good health. It is striking how some of his more serious attacks (that included internal bleeding) followed emotional trauma with his mother; or occurred after the Queen blocked his path to jobs that Leopold could have done with aplomb.
Too often Victoria stifled Leopold, using his health as an excuse to keep him tied to her. But by nature, Leopold was perhaps the Queen's most independent child, and he resisted her attempts to keep him at home as an invalid. As author, Charlotte Zeepvat says, "Full of spirit, he resented his illness and wanted to fight against it."* He was smart, curious and needed to take on challenges outside of the castle. The Prince wanted to lead the life of a normal man of his class.
It is touching how his older brothers and sisters rallied for him. At one time or another, Vicky from Prussia, Bertie, Alice, Affie, Helena, Louise and Arthur all wrote letters to the Queen in support of something their younger brother wanted to pursue. Sometimes Victoria's other children and her prime ministers understood Leopold better than she did.
Only when Queen Victoria saw that her son wouldn't be put-off, did she allow him to attend Oxford University and earn an honorary degree in civil law. He thrived in his studies, despite his mother's habit of yanking him out of classes to accompany her to Balmoral.
Only when Queen Victoria saw that her son wouldn't be put-off, did she allow him to attend Oxford University and earn an honorary degree in civil law. He thrived in his studies, despite his mother's habit of yanking him out of classes to accompany her to Balmoral.
Attending Oxford University was one of the happiest periods of Prince Leopold's life. Throwing himself into university life, he studied a variety of subjects and joined a number of clubs. He loved going to concerts, operas and plays, liked actresses and met many artistic and literary elites in Victorian England. Some became lifelong friends.
Indeed, Prince Leopold stayed in touch with people from different stages of his life, from former nursery staff and old tutors to his Oxford friends. He also loved children and was a devoted uncle and godfather to his nieces and nephews, as well as, to the offspring of close friends, who named their sons, Leopold, in honor of him.
Death touched him at an early age. At 8 years old the Prince lost his father and equerry on the same day, December 14, 1861 while the little boy was recuperating from illness in France. Years later, his sister, Alice's 2-year old son, Frittie (also a hemophiliac and Leopold's godson) died of a fall from a window. The child would have lived had he not had hemophilia. That death was followed by Alice's daughter, Marie (another godchild) from diphtheria and during the same period {1878}, by Alice, herself, also of diphtheria. At Oxford, a close friend and possibly Leopold's first love, Edith Liddell (the younger sister of Alice Liddle, who was the inspiration for "Alice In Wonderland") died young. Leopold was a pallbearer.
After college, Queen Victoria thought her son should remain unmarried and at home with her. Off and on, Leopold acted as her unofficial private secretary, advising her on domestic and foreign policy. He grew to love foreign affairs, communicating with prime ministers Disraeli and Gladstone.
But Leopold had other hankerings. Not only did The Prince covet foreign appointments and peerages like his brothers, he longed for a wife and family of his own. He was a gentle, sensitive soul with qualities that would make him a loving husband. But due to his hemophilia and a suspicion (possibly false) of mild epilepsy, Leopold had trouble finding a bride. Over a two year search, several German princesses, plus an English heiress rejected him, and it was Queen Victoria (to her credit!) who had the idea of having him meet with Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont, whose German family made a favorable impression on Victoria a decade earlier.
Luckily they hit it off ... marrying (7 months after meeting) on April 27, 1882. (It didn't hurt that they had two mutual contacts who praised Leopold to the German princess.)
Helena (a/k/a Helen) was highly intelligent, warm, supportive, "full of fun and humor;"* and they had a happy although all too brief marriage. Leopold delighted in fatherhood to daughter, Alice, born in February, 1883. They lived in a relaxed and comfortable home, Claremont House, that Leopold took pleasure in decorating.
Their marriage "showed every sign of lasting and growing;"* and it breaks a reader's heart to learn that Leopold died on March 28, 1884 in Cannes, France after slipping on a tile floor and banging his knee. He went to Cannes (a warm climate) on doctor's orders to ease joint pain (a common malady with hemophiliacs) that was often brought on by the winters in the UK. Helen planned to go too, but pregnant with their second child, required bedrest. She urged Leopold to go (Febraury 21), and they wrote each other every day. In his last letter (written before he fell asleep on March 27) he asked her to join him if she could. Helen, who knew of his fall, was arranging to send Alice (their toddler daugther) to keep her father company* when she recieved word the next afternoon.
Leopold had "cheated death so many times,"* yet sadly not this last time. Sources speculate that the Prince died from the effects of morphine (administered to dull his pain) combined with a glass of claret (he was served with his dinner). Other sources say that by falling, he ruptured small veins in his head causing a cerebral hemorrhage, but the exact cause of death remains unclear. He had hurt his knee at 3:30 pm; was given morphine a couple of times in the evening. At about 2:00 am he had a seizure and died. Just 30 years old ... a promising life cut tragically short.
Robert Hawthorne Collins, a former tutor and close friend, wrote: "May we meet that gentle, loving boy again! I can think of nothing more joyful in the hereafter."*
Always aware of his mortality, Prince Leopold had a thirst for life. When he befriended individuals he wanted to introduce them to all the people and places he loved. You can't help being charmed by him, rooting for him and having your heart broken by how much he had to overcome. Most of all, he is inspiring. Not always a healthy man, but a positive and kind person, who persevered to live a full life.
*(All quotes are from the book)
I didn't mind the heavy quoting from letters as the author weaved the quotes into a story, plus gave them context with her insights as biographer. You get a great sense of Leopold (and the Queen) from his own letters in how he expressed himself.
February 25, 2024
I listened to this book through my Audible trial.
I appreciate the amount of work that Zeepvat put into this book. It appears to be one of, if not the only biography of Victoria and Albert's youngest son. I did find this book to be incredibly comprehensive in terms of detailing Leopold's short life.
I think that the most interesting part of the book for me was the relationship between Leopold and his oldest brother Edward (aka Bertie). The fact that Victoria pitted her children against each other was an incredibly manipulative and damaging tactic for her children psychologically and interrelational. I also think that Zeepvat did a very nice job of highlighting how Leopold got along with his sisters and how they remained in communication throughout his life even when they left London.
Zeepavat's discussion of Leopold's sexuality and what it might have meant within the puritanical context of Victoria's family was not as nuanced as I would have liked. There was a great deal of conjecture and speculation on the subject rather than evidence. In many ways, it feels like conjectures about Leopold's sexual orientation are being made because he was friends with some men who were known to be gay or bisexual at the time.
Although he was only married for a brief period of his life I do wish that a discussion of his relationship with his wife was longer. This might be the fault of limited sources rather than a narrative choice that Zeepavat made.
Overall, this book was interesting, but the conjectures made throughout the book should be viewed as such.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, and Death of a parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Colonisation, War, and Medical content
I appreciate the amount of work that Zeepvat put into this book. It appears to be one of, if not the only biography of Victoria and Albert's youngest son. I did find this book to be incredibly comprehensive in terms of detailing Leopold's short life.
I think that the most interesting part of the book for me was the relationship between Leopold and his oldest brother Edward (aka Bertie). The fact that Victoria pitted her children against each other was an incredibly manipulative and damaging tactic for her children psychologically and interrelational. I also think that Zeepvat did a very nice job of highlighting how Leopold got along with his sisters and how they remained in communication throughout his life even when they left London.
Zeepavat's discussion of Leopold's sexuality and what it might have meant within the puritanical context of Victoria's family was not as nuanced as I would have liked. There was a great deal of conjecture and speculation on the subject rather than evidence. In many ways, it feels like conjectures about Leopold's sexual orientation are being made because he was friends with some men who were known to be gay or bisexual at the time.
Although he was only married for a brief period of his life I do wish that a discussion of his relationship with his wife was longer. This might be the fault of limited sources rather than a narrative choice that Zeepavat made.
Overall, this book was interesting, but the conjectures made throughout the book should be viewed as such.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, and Death of a parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Colonisation, War, and Medical content
March 5, 2023
ironically Leopold adored his nieces and nephews...and children of his inner circle of friends. This is not a trait he learned from experience ....children were a necessary evil in the eyes of his dear Mamma. Queen Victoria was a terribly egotistical queen and a seriously poor parent. Prince Albert knew that she looked at her children as annoyances. She wrote letters to one child, tearing down another, pointing out any character flaw that she perceived....never acknowledging their feelings or virtues. Everything was about how their actions displeased her and how that impacted her health. She would remind them that their main concern was to be her. When she ,was annoyed or angry, which didn't take more than having a conversation with their siblings about what they wanted to do in life, she communicated with them through writing letters...even if they were in the same house. She denied, as much as possible, Leopold's hemophilia as she refused to believe the gene was transmitted through her. She would have preferred he live the life of an invalid rather than have joy, good days and live as normal a life as possible given his limitations. Leopold wanted the chznce at a normal life, including appointments afforded his brothers. What he got was a strict boundaries and interference at every turn from an overbearing, out of touch mother.
jjk
jjk
December 17, 2017
The life of Queen Victoria and her family is endlessly fascinating, Leopold, her youngest son, seems to have received less scrutiny than some of her older children. Born with the inherited condition of haemophilia, we track events during his childhood and his relationship with his constraining and demanding mother. This develops into a quest for personal independence and a fulfilling role to give him purpose.
There are descriptions of the people who shaped Leopold’s thinking, leading to studies at Oxford and lifelong friendships with people like Ruskin and the Liddell family. After this time Leopold seems to engage more in public life and develop an interest in social and some political issues. With his eventual marriage, he seems ready to enter a new phase of life.
The tone of the book is rather academic, but it is thorough and detailed. The footnotes show evidence of significant research by the author. As other reviewers have expressed, I too think that the ‘What happened next’ chapter is missing at the end. His wife and son are briefly mentioned, and nothing is said about whether any of Leopold’s interests really led to lasting changes.
There are descriptions of the people who shaped Leopold’s thinking, leading to studies at Oxford and lifelong friendships with people like Ruskin and the Liddell family. After this time Leopold seems to engage more in public life and develop an interest in social and some political issues. With his eventual marriage, he seems ready to enter a new phase of life.
The tone of the book is rather academic, but it is thorough and detailed. The footnotes show evidence of significant research by the author. As other reviewers have expressed, I too think that the ‘What happened next’ chapter is missing at the end. His wife and son are briefly mentioned, and nothing is said about whether any of Leopold’s interests really led to lasting changes.
September 28, 2021
Pretty torn about this because it touches on a few areas I'm interested in, and I did find a lot of the content interesting to read about, but at times it felt like a chore to get through. It's not a particularly long book, but it took me almost a year to read because I had to chip away at it. I don't know if that was because of the long paragraphs/walls of text situation (which I figure is common in biographies and books on history anyway, and which I've read a lot of before) or something to do with the writing or something else. I did get tired of feeling like I was reading an extended itinerary which had little relevance to anything, especially towards the end.
But it was interesting even if it was slow going for me, and I found it informative too. I got a bit confused with who was being talk about a lot of the time when titles were used, when I knew of the individual by other names, but that probably wasn't helped by the fact I took so many breaks when reading and forgot who was referred to as what name/title.
But it was interesting even if it was slow going for me, and I found it informative too. I got a bit confused with who was being talk about a lot of the time when titles were used, when I knew of the individual by other names, but that probably wasn't helped by the fact I took so many breaks when reading and forgot who was referred to as what name/title.
December 27, 2022
Few people could really say they got to the point in the life where they cannot find out more about Queen Victoria and her descendants, but that, however, it is my case. Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, came to be the most intelligent of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's sons but he was also ill since he was a child, the first haemophiliac in the royals to be known (at least until it is actually confirmed this came via the Duchess of Kent's side of the family which perhaps might be as the author suggests), which makes his life difficult, not that being Queen Victoria's son helped much.
So basically I ended up skimming through the parts I already know for most of the siblings' lives intertwine with one another, and getting to the bits about him, and while Zeepvat managed to pain a vivid portrait of him it does get to the point where you end up reading a diary of maladies mostly for that was his life, curtailed very soon at 30 in Cannes.
Interesting still for this ancestor of the current King of Sweden, through his granddaughter Princess Sybilla, and the next to be.
So basically I ended up skimming through the parts I already know for most of the siblings' lives intertwine with one another, and getting to the bits about him, and while Zeepvat managed to pain a vivid portrait of him it does get to the point where you end up reading a diary of maladies mostly for that was his life, curtailed very soon at 30 in Cannes.
Interesting still for this ancestor of the current King of Sweden, through his granddaughter Princess Sybilla, and the next to be.
June 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up because I saw the author on a TV show about Queen Victoria and liked the way she spoke on that.
Before reading this book I vaguely knew that there was a younger son with haemophilia .. and that was about all I knew. After reading this book I feel like I know him as a person, and would like him as a person.
The author brought his personality to life, as well as the people around him. I have read a few biographies of the people who appear in this book, but this is possibly the most engaging telling of a story of this type that I have read.
Highly recommended if you like history, Victoriana, people or just a good story well told.
Before reading this book I vaguely knew that there was a younger son with haemophilia .. and that was about all I knew. After reading this book I feel like I know him as a person, and would like him as a person.
The author brought his personality to life, as well as the people around him. I have read a few biographies of the people who appear in this book, but this is possibly the most engaging telling of a story of this type that I have read.
Highly recommended if you like history, Victoriana, people or just a good story well told.
June 6, 2017
Excellent and intriging
This book kept me captivated from cover to cover. What an excellent read of Historic and medical information. This book is written in a way that makes the reader feel as if they have known the royal of Prince Leopolds family personally. I love how the information was taken from historical documents and the spaces filled in to make this story come to life. I can feel the anxiety and selfishness of the queen as well as the frustration and unhappiness of dear Prince Leopold.
This book kept me captivated from cover to cover. What an excellent read of Historic and medical information. This book is written in a way that makes the reader feel as if they have known the royal of Prince Leopolds family personally. I love how the information was taken from historical documents and the spaces filled in to make this story come to life. I can feel the anxiety and selfishness of the queen as well as the frustration and unhappiness of dear Prince Leopold.
December 5, 2018
Very interesting book about the life of Prince Leopold. He seemed to be a decent, caring, empathetic person, however was hindered by hemophilia which cut short his life. And, his mother, Queen Victoria was determined to keep her son by her side and run his life. Not easy having everyone’s “eye” on ones life. Prince Leopold was not free by any means although he tried to live a meaningful life.
February 7, 2020
I wanted to learn more about Leopold, and I got that from this book. I hadn't realised, for example, that he'd got married and had children.
However, ultimately, I felt it didn't deliver what I wanted. A big omission was Leopold's age. I couldn't work out at any point how old he was and that took away a lot of context. Just a few, "when Leopold was 11" for example, would have really helped. And as someone else said, I'd like to have l own what became of his children and wife.
However, ultimately, I felt it didn't deliver what I wanted. A big omission was Leopold's age. I couldn't work out at any point how old he was and that took away a lot of context. Just a few, "when Leopold was 11" for example, would have really helped. And as someone else said, I'd like to have l own what became of his children and wife.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2021
Charlotte Zeepvat is a very reliable researcher and a beautiful writer. She sheds light onto a minor historical personality of a man who does not appear in history books too often and provides an interesting look into an everyday reality of Victorian age - reality of mighty and privilleged, who actually seemed to have very little privilleges or say in their own lives. The problem is that while interesting, Leopold´s life was also so very restricted that reading about it sometimes becomes dull.
June 7, 2017
Outstanding
Reads like a novel, but is a well documented bibliography. Don't miss reading this one. What a story! We've come so far in the treatment and care of hemophilia. Oh, that Leopold could have led the life that can be lived today even with hemophilia! A very enlightening book.
Reads like a novel, but is a well documented bibliography. Don't miss reading this one. What a story! We've come so far in the treatment and care of hemophilia. Oh, that Leopold could have led the life that can be lived today even with hemophilia! A very enlightening book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews