The tragic fate of a royal child born into a family of fifteen
In short: Prince Alfred was the youngest son of King George III, a child whose delicate health and untimely death left a lasting scar on the British monarchy. His struggle with illness and the medical practices of the 18th century highlight the precarious nature of royal survival during the Georgian era.
At Windsor Castle, Prince Alfred was born on 22 September 1780; he was the ninth and final son, and fourteenth child, of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and King George III. As a member of the House of Hanover, his birth brought significant joy to the royal family, including his older sister Princess Sophia, who reportedly referred to him as her 'grandson.'
Despite his family's status, Alfred was a delicate child from birth, suffering from a persistent cough and facial eruptions.
In 1782, in an attempt to protect him from the frequently fatal smallpox virus, his mother—a lifelong advocate for inoculation—had him undergo the procedure. However, the inoculation had a devastating effect on his health, causing eruptions on his face and eyelids and worsening his chest condition.
In a desperate attempt to aid his recovery, he was taken to Deal in June 1782, where physicians hoped sea air, bathing, and horseback riding would help. While his appetite initially improved, his condition deteriorated rapidly. By late July, he could no longer walk. After returning to Windsor Castle, doctors concluded he had only weeks to live. Alfred died on 20 August 1782, at Lower Lodge, Windsor Great Park, just shy of his second birthday. His death, followed six months later by the death of his four-year-old brother Octavius, deeply distressed the royal family. King George III's grief was so profound that during bouts of madness in 1812, he was known to hold imaginary conversations with his two youngest sons.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Prince Alfred of Great Britain
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