Victims of theSpanish Flu ; Prince Eric the forgotten prince

Victims of theSpanish Flu ; Prince Eric the  forgotten prince






Prince Eric ( Erik Gustaf Louis Albert) Duke of Västmanland   was born on 20 April 1889 at the Royal Palacein Stockholm as the youngest son of the then Crown Prince Gustaf (Gustav V) from 1858 to 1950 and his wife Victoria of Baden 1862-1930.He dad  two older brothers  Gustavus Adolphus (Gustaf VI Adolf) 1882-1972 and Wilhelm  1884- 1964 .His paternal Grandfather was King Oscar II 1829-1907 and grandmother Queen Sofia of Nassau. 

The previous year had been hard for the Crown Princess Victoria.both  her grandfather Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany and her younger brother Prince Louis of Baden had died. Her pregnancy was difficult and Victoria had to take strong medications, which were believed to have affected the child.

(Wikipedia photo)
Erik was small and frail at birth, and it soon became apparent that something was wrong with him. He probably suffered from some form of epilepsy, and possibly an light mental retardation. He was raised  during childhood and even later by his  and brothers an nanny Louise Rinman



Erik and  brothers Gustaf Adolf and Wilhelm 


Around 1910, Eric with his household  moved to the manor  Ballingsholm in Huddinge 
Eric  lived a reclusive life and was rarely or never at public ceremonies and events. The family and a small circle of friends sometimes visited  him on Ballingsholm.




(Image: Wikipedia BallingsHolm is currently training center and conference facility .)


Eric  is described as a friendly man. Very interested in music, geography,genealogy., history, especially the history of the Old Town in Stockholm .



(Photo Wikipedia)

In 1917 it was decided that Prince Eric should move from Ballingsholm . The reason is not fully known but it was speculated that Prince Eric had played with the servants  children and his parents dissaproved of it.It was determined that he would move to Haga Palace but then this had to be renovated first so he got  stay  at Drottningholm Palace  .

In summer 1918 Spanish flu came  to Sweden in the late summer and early autumn, it spread across the country. In September, Prince Eric fell ill soon he was hit as many of the victims of double  sided pneumonia. 
Although doctors sent word to the king and queen that he was dying, he died alone at Drottningholm.at 20 September 1918. He was buried in the Riddarholms church in Stockholm.

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