Where Was Prince Albert Victor During the Ripper Killings?

Of the many suspects linked with the Jack the Ripper murders, one name that can seemingly be ruled out is that of Prince Albert Victor following an examination of court and Royal records.

The name of the Prince was first linked with the Whitechapel murders in a 1962 book by Phillippe Jullien, although there was little in the way of actual evidence. Prince Albert Victor was linked with the murders on the basis that he was suffering from syphilis, according to Dr Thomas Stowell, and the Prince was led to insanity.

According to records, however, Prince Albert Victor was not in London at the time of any of the Canonical Five murders.

29th August  – 7th September 1888

The first generally accepted victim of Jack the Ripper was Mary Ann Nichols on 31st August 1888. If Jullien’s theory is to be believed, this would have been the beginning of the Prince’s killing spree; however, records show that he was not anywhere near the capital.

Prince Albert is recorded to have been staying at Danby Lodge in Grosmont, Yorkshire, with Viscount Downe from 29th August to 7th September.

7th – 10th September 1888

Annie Chapman, the second victim, was killed on 8th September, shortly after Prince Albert Victor’s stay at Danby Lodge. However, according to Royal records, the Prince headed straight to the Cavalry Barrack in York, where he remained until 10th September.

27th – 30th September 1888

The Prince is recorded having lunch with Queen Victoria in her own personal journal on 30th September in Abergeldie, Scotland – the same day that both Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes were killed.

According to records, he was at the Scottish residence from the 27th to the day of the murders, all but ruling him out of the two murders.

2nd – 12th November 1888

Having arrived back in London from York on 1st November, Prince Albert Victor remained at Sandringham House in Norfolk from the 2nd to 12th November, during the time that Mary Jane Kelly was killed on 9th November.

Jack the Ripper – a Royal Cover Up?

According to Jullien, the Royal family knew of the Prince’s alleged killing spree and did nothing to restrain him until after the murders of Stride and Eddowes on 30th September. Although unlikely, Jullien’s theory might explain why Royal records would place the Prince far away from London at the time of the killings.

What do you make of Phillipe Jullien’s theory about Prince Albert Victor? Implausible or the unravelling of one of the biggest scandals in British history? Make your mind up for yourself on the Jack the Ripper tour, book online today.