LEOPOLD (George Albert, 1853-1884, 4th Son of Queen Victoria, Duke of Albany, a haemophiliac, died after an accident on 28th March in Cannes)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed, to his physician Arnold Royle thanking him for his letter and saying he is "sorry you had so bad a passage, going South. I am very well, saving a cough, which I got two days ago after my arrival & which I can't shake off - though it shakes me nearly off. The Duchess is much better, thanks to Hoffmeisters's treatment, which agrees very well with her - The Grand Duke arrives here on Monday & not on board the 'Osborne' as you had arranged! I shall not want you here at all - but you with Mrs Moreton & Yorke must meet the Duchess & myself somewhere on the 13th 'en route' for Blythewood. Perhaps at Glasgow but I will let you know place & hour - with kind remembrance to Mrs Royle & love to my godchild (or vice versa) ...", 3 sides 8vo., on his crested black edged mourning paper, Balmoral Castle, 23rd September

Arnold Royle, who was the Prince's personal physician from 1876 until the Prince's death from a cerebral haemorrhage in 1884, found himself caught between his strong-willed patient, determined to live an active life, and his equally strong-willed mother. Furthermore, the Queen evidently had somewhat limited faith in Royle and constantly wished him to defer to her favoured physician, Sir William Jenner. Eventually, however, the medical skill and diplomatic aplomb with which Royle carried out his duties did gain acknowledgement from the Queen, who appointed him a Groom of the Privy Chamber in November 1884, some months after Prince Leopold's death.
Sir William Carter HOFFMEISTER (1817-1890) was the Royal physician who attended the Royal Family.

Item Date:  1882

Stock No:  41522      £575

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