The royal family has a genetic blood disorder known as hemophilia, which is a rare inherited bleeding disorder. People with hemophilia lack certain proteins or factors in their blood that are needed for normal blood clotting and therefore, even a minor injury or wound can result in excessive, potentially dangerous bleeding.
The first known victim of hemophilia in the royal family was Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Through her daughter, Alice, the disorder was passed on to descendants in several European royal families.
Today, a direct descendant of Queen Victoria, Prince Philip is the current carrier of the disorder, who passed it on to his son, Prince Edward and his three grandsons.
There are two forms of hemophilia, hemophilia A and hemophilia B. People with hemophilia A lack clotting factor VIII; while people with hemophilia B lack clotting factor IX. Hemophilia A is much more common (around 80% of all cases of hemophilia).
Symptoms of this disorder include unusually heavy bleeding andeasy bruising, which often require treatment with clotting factor concentrates. But the disorder can be managed with medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes.
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Does the royal family still carry hemophilia?
No, the royal family no longer carries the genetic disorder hemophilia. It was first introduced to the family in the 1800s when Queen Victoria, who was a carrier of the disorder, married her first cousin, Prince Albert.
This later caused their son, Leopold, to develop the disorder. From then on, the disorder known as ‘the royal disease’ spread further through Europe’s royal families.
But the disorder has not been seen in the British royal family in generations. Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth’s eldest son, was tested and found to not have the disorder in the 1960s, and measures were taken to ensure that no member of the family would become a carrier.
Through a process of genetic counseling and testing, any member of the family found to be a carrier or show any signs of the disorder is put in contact with medical specialists and offered the advice they need.
In the present day, it is believed that the royal family’s close ties to the Church of England and their strong commitment to genetic testing have eradicated the disorder from their line.
Does Queen Elizabeth carry the hemophilia gene?
No, Queen Elizabeth II does not carry the hemophilia gene. Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive genetic disorder, meaning that it is passed on to offspring via the mother’s X-chromosome. Queen Elizabeth’s mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, did not carry the genetic disorder, which means that Queen Elizabeth is not a carrier of the gene.
This is confirmed by the fact that none of Queen Elizabeth II’s four children suffer from the disorder. In contrast, Queen Victoria, one of Queen Elizabeth II’s great-great-grandmothers, did carry the hemophilia gene and passed it onto several of her descendants, including Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.
Are people with hemophilia related to Queen Victoria?
No, people with hemophilia are not related to Queen Victoria. Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that affects the ability of the blood to clot and is passed on from parent to child. Queen Victoria did not have the disorder, but it is believed that she was a carrier, meaning she passed it down to some of her descendants, who likely had the disorder.
This is why hemophilia is more commonly seen in royalty and is known as the “royal disease”. Queen Victoria’s son Leopold, her grandchildren, and various other descendants in Europe all had the disorder, which is why so many of these families were affected.
Does Prince Philip have hemophilia?
No, Prince Philip does not have hemophilia. Hemophilia is an inherited disorder that prevents the blood from clotting properly, which can lead to excessive bleeding following an injury or surgery. Although hemophilia is a genetic disorder that is carried on the X chromosome and can be passed down from mother to her sons, Prince Philip did not carry the trait and did not suffer from the condition.
How did Queen Victoria have hemophilia?
Queen Victoria inherited the gene mutation that causes hemophilia from her mother, the Duchess of Kent. The mutation causes a deficiency in clotting factors, which then results in abnormal bleeding. Queen Victoria passed this mutation on to her children, as well as her descendants, resulting in significant royal hemophilia in Europe.
Queen Victoria’s son Prince Leopold suffered from hemophilia, and his own son Leopold inherited the gene. Queen Victoria’s daughter Alice also passed the gene mutation to two of her children, including her daughter, princess Victoria Eugenia, who was born with a mild form of the condition.
Queen Victoria also passed on the gene to her grandchildren. In fact, the blood disorder has been found in generations of the Royal Family, affecting figures such as Prince William of Wales and many other royals.
Who was the last royal to have hemophilia?
The last royal to have hemophilia was Alfonso XIII, the King of Spain from 1886 to 1931. He was born in 1886 with the inherited blood disorder, as was his father, Alfonso XII. Hemophilia is an inherited disorder that impairs the body’s ability to control bleeding.
Hemophilia is an X-linked genetic disorder, meaning it is carried by females who can be carriers but don’t show the symptoms; while males, who only inherited the chromosome from their mother, will typically express the disorder.
In Alfonso XIII’s case, he suffered several crippling consequences of hemophilia throughout his life. He was prone to excessive bleeding, which even caused him to bleed to death in childbirth. He was also restricted in physical activities and found it difficult to keep up with other boys of his age.
As he grew older, his limitations continued and he wasn’t able to enjoy the active lifestyle expected of a king.
Despite his hemophilia, Alfonso XIII was able to have several children. However, several of his sons and daughters inherited the disorder from him and passed it down to their own children. His hemophilia eventually led to the fall of the Spanish monarchy in 1931 when Alfonso XIII was forced to abdicate in favor of the Second Spanish Republic.
He died in 1941 in Rome, Italy and is the last known royal to have hemophilia.
What condition did Prince Philip have?
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was recently hospitalized with a pre-existing condition. The exact condition is not known, but it has been reported that it is not related to COVID-19. Prince Philip was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London on February 16th, 2021 for observation and treatment.
The hospital stated that Philip was initially feeling unwell and was taken for further testing and investigation.
Following his visit to the hospital, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying that Philip was being treated for an infection and his progress will be monitored. It was further stated that the Duke was expected to remain in the hospital for a few days of rest and observation.
The general public did not receive more detailed information about Philip’s condition and his health is considered a private matter. Since his hospitalization, there have been several reports that the Duke may have had a flare-up from a long-term condition.
It has been reported that he was not suffering from any life-threatening illness or virus-related illness. However, it is not known what actually caused the hospitalization, and what pre-existing condition Philip has.
Why is hemophilia B not present in the current royal family in England?
Hemophilia B, or Christmas Disease, is a genetic disorder in which the body does not produce enough blood clotting factor IX. This results in a decreased ability to form blood clots, which can cause excessive and prolonged bleeding, even from a minor injury.
Historically, hemophilia B has affected numerous members of the European royal families and many of the diseases’s symptoms can be traced back to Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria of England was a carrier of the disorder, which she passed down to her children and grandchildren.
Unfortunately, due to the large carrier rate in the royal family, hemophilia B became a big problem. However, it has not been seen in the current British royal family due to the introduction of new medical technology.
The British royal family now has the ability to predict if their offspring will carry the disease or not. This has allowed them to better prevent and eliminate the disorder from being passed on to the current monarch.
What race gets hemophilia the most?
Hemophilia is an inherited disorder that prevents the blood from clotting properly. It is more commonly seen in males than in females. People of all races can be affected by this condition, but there are certain populations in which hemophilia is more prevalent.
Hemophilia is most often seen in people of Caucasian descent, with around 70% of cases being diagnosed in individuals of Caucasian background. In comparison, African American, Hispanic, and Asian individuals are less likely to develop hemophilia.
Additionally, people of Eastern European Jewish and Finnish descent have a higher rate of hemophilia due to unique genetic mutations.
Despite all populations being susceptible to hemophilia, awareness of the condition is relatively low in non-Caucasian communities. This is due to a lack of ethnic-specific education and lack of access to specialized medical treatment in those communities.
As a result, it is important to ensure that individuals of all backgrounds are showing symptoms and are receiving the appropriate care and treatment.
Was there a prince of England with hemophilia?
Yes, there was a prince of England with hemophilia. Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, was the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and his birth was met with much excitement. However, it was discovered soon after birth that Leopold was a sufferer of Hemophilia, a rare genetic condition that affects the ability of the blood to clot.
This meant that even the slightest cut or bruise could cause him to suffer from dangerous internal bleeding. In order to protect him, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert kept the news of Leopold’s illness quiet, and it was not until after his death in 1884, at the age of 30, that the truth came out.
Throughout his life, Leopold underwent numerous surgeries and treatments, but unfortunately none were effective, and his health gradually deteriorated over time. Despite this, Leopold lived a relatively normal life, traveling around Europe and attending many events.
He even married his childhood sweetheart, Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont in 1882. Prince Leopold was certainly a true prince, and he not only overcame a life-long illness, but used his position as member of the British royalty to raise awareness of Hemophilia among his peers.
