Tragedies That Shook Royal Families Around The World

The Secret Prince John Of England Succumbed to Epilepsy

Photo by Print Collector/Getty Images

Born John Charles Francis in 1905, Prince John can be seen here as a baby, held by his mother Queen Mary. The young royal would have a short and tragic life.

John was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of four, but as the years went on his condition deteriorated. Unlike today, doctors knew next to nothing about how to treat the condition. On top of this, it’s thought that he was also autistic. Some sources say he was hidden away and shunned by his family, while other’s say his mother continued to care for him after he was sent to live at Sandringham House. He died of a seizure aged 13.