PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR, DUKE OF CLARENCE | series of seven letters to Sybil St Claire Erskine, 1891

PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR, DUKE OF CLARENCE

SERIES OF SEVEN AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ("EDWARD", "EDDY"), TO SYBIL ST CLAIR ERSKINE

REVEALING AND DEEPLY PERSONAL LETTERS BY THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE TO THE THRONE, TO A SOCIETY BEAUTY, awkwardly admitting his passion for her and exposing his own profound insecurity ("...I only hope and trust that this charming creature which has so fascinated me, is not merely playing with my feelings, and that she will not behave to others in the same charming manner as she has to me, or my feelings would indeed be hurt..."), with many plaintive comments on his uncertainty about her feelings ("...I wonder if you really love me a little? I ought not to ask such a question, I suppose, but still I should be very pleased if you did just a little bit..."), repeatedly asking her to keep their correspondence secret ("...I hope you really will be careful about putting away my letters, for it would be too terrible if anyone got hold of them, and what would they think of me? I hope also you have cut out the crest and signature which will make it safer..."), additionally discussing his regimental duties ("...I had to go with the regiment quite early to a beastly place called Strenshall for a field day, which our lunatic of a general insisted on having..."), polo, parties, photography, and royal duties ("...I shall not be able to stop after 5, having to go with my Father to meet the Emperor at the station at 6. Too tiresome but it has to be done..."), the final letter congratulating her, somewhat stiffly, on her engagement and admitting that his own engagement is likely to be announced soon ("...it can't be helped and I must make the best of a bad job..."), 58 pages, chiefly 8vo, York and other locations, 19 April-29 November 1891, together with 5 envelopes; wear to envelopes

These letters provide a rare insight into the personality of Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (1864-92), the eldest son of the Prince of Wales. Prince Eddy, as he was known to family and friends, was a serious concern to the Victorian court: his lack of intellect was much less of a problem than his indolence, lack of discernible talents or interests beyond heavy drinking and male prostitutes. These letters were written during his brief army service, which was no more successful than had been his stint in the navy or at university. His boredom with army life, and its tiresome way of interfering with polo practice, is evident in these letters and the Commander in Chief (his great uncle) dismissed him as "an inveterate and incurable dawdler" (quoted in ODNB). These letters reveal not only his boredom at so many aspects of his life, but also deep-seated insecurity. His correspondent was Lady Sibyl, daughter of the 4th Earl of Rosslyn, and one of the most celebrated aristocratic beauties of the 1890s. She rejected the Prince's attempts to make her his mistress and instead married the 13th Earl of Westmorland. Prince Edward Victor's own engagement to Mary of Teck was announced just days after the final letter in this series was written, but a few weeks later he fell ill with pneumonia and died on 14 January 1892. Mary of Teck went on to marry his younger brother, the new heir presumptive, and thus become Queen Mary, consort to George V. LETTERS BY PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR ARE RARE ON THE MARKET.

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