The royal pilot whose lineage carried a hidden genetic shadow
In short: He was a grandson of King George V and a man of adventurous spirit. Yet, Prince William of Gloucester carried a rare hereditary condition that linked his biology to the most famous figures in British history, including the legendary King George III.
Prince William of Gloucester lived a life of high-stakes movement, from serving in the diplomatic posts of Lagos and Tokyo to competing in amateur air races. A graduate of both Cambridge and Stanford, he transitioned from a career in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to full-scale royal duties after his father's health declined around 1970. His life was marked by a notable duality: the disciplined life of a diplomat and the 'reckless' energy of a licensed pilot.
Behind his public duties lay a complex medical narrative. In 1968, an RAF doctor tentatively diagnosed him with porphyria after noting symptoms like jaundice and a sun-sensitive blistering rash. This was not merely a personal struggle; William was a significant figure in medical history as a descendant of George III to be diagnosed with the condition. This diagnosis lent weight to a theory proposed by scholars like Ida Macalpine that porphyria may have caused the mental decline of George III and influenced the health of various European royal lines.
His life ended abruptly in 1972 during the Goodyear International Air Trophy. While piloting a Piper Cherokee at Halfpenny Green, a sudden change in wind direction forced a steep bank during takeoff. The aircraft struck a tree and crashed in front of 30,000 spectators, killing both William and his passenger, Vyrell Mitchell. At the time of his death, he had descended from fourth to ninth in the line of succession, leaving behind a legacy of service and a complicated family history.
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