Strange Facts About Prince Henry, The Royal Family's Forgotten Son
Let’s be honest: When it comes to members of Britain’s royal family, there's no shortage of bizarre behavior. Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester, is no exception.
From his awkward childhood to his scandalous first love to his devastating end, this minor royal was a major misfit. So, does Henry's drama stack up with the likes of Edward VIII, Princess Di, and Meghan Markle? That's up to you to decide.
1. He May Have Had Fangs
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, was born on March 31, 1900. His father was about to become the King of England and his mother? She had a rather eerie history. It turns out that Mary of Teck—Henry’s mother—descended from Romania’s Vlad the Impaler who, as you may recall, was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula.
I’m not saying that Henry slept in a coffin—but I’m also not saying he didn’t.
2. He Came In Fifth
When Prince Henry was born, his great-grandmother Victoria, was queen. There were, however, quite a few steps between him and becoming the reigning monarch—four to be exact.
His grandfather, father, and two older brothers all stood in line to be king before Henry did. But it's maybe a good thing he didn't stand a chance...
As a child, Henry exhibited a few..."eccentricities" that would make him, if he ever got the chance, a very peculiar king.
3. He Suffered
Along with his older brother Albert, Henry had knock knees—which means his knees knocked together even when his ankles were wide apart. Nowadays, we let this condition heal itself. Henry was forced to try a more painful solution: leg splints. This cruel form of therapy could certainly explain one of Henry’s other peculiarities: spontaneous fits of crying. On the other hand, Henry’s uncontrollable giggling had no rational explanation.
Sure, he was a nervous and strange little boy, but things got even more awkward when he opened his mouth.
4. His Voice Was…Er…Unique
Henry couldn’t properly pronounce the letter “R,” also known as rhotacism. Henry's “Rs” ended up as “Ws,” leaving him sounding something akin to Elmer Fudd chasing after the “wascally wabbit.”
In addition to rhotacism, Henry’s voice was high-pitched and he suffered from a nasal lisp. The poor kid had a voice for a career as a mime.
Henry was obviously suffering, but it didn’t stop there.
