Figure 1.--This is Prince Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales, in 1610. He died 2 years later of typhoid fever after swimming in the Thames at age 18 before he could inherit the throne. The portrait is by Robert Peake and hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Henry Frederick as the elest son of King James became the Prince of Wales. He was born at Stirling Castle in Scotland before his father became king of England (1594). His other titles included Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Lord of the Isles, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester. He was handsome, athletic, chivalrous, candid, and a hater of flattery--the idol of the nation and one of the most gifted members of the Stuart dynasty. He was trained and well prepared to be king. English history could have been very different had he become king. He also was a fervent Protestant. King James made sure of that. He died of typhoid fever at St. James Palace in England (1612). He probably contracted the disease afrer swiming in tghe already poluted Thames. . Many funeral elegies by such literary giants as John Donne, George Chapman, John Webster and Henry King were written to mourn his early passing.

Parents

Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales (1594-1612), the eldest son of James I and Queen Anne (of Denmark). James was the son of Mary Queen of Scotts, but raised a Protestant in Scotland. He acceeded to the British throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth. He was scholarly and interested in theology. He experienced difficulties dealing with Parliament becuse of his concept of monarchy. This was a problem his desendents shared and would eventually lead to the Civil War and the execution of his son Charles. Then later it would lead to the the Glorious Revolution.

Childhood

The Scottish Reformation had only occurred a generation earlier. James VI was the first Protestant monarch of Scotland. As in England, Scotlnd was still divided on religious lines. Aany Catholics still hoped for a return to the old religion. Relations with England were also tense, playing a role in the execution of James' mother-Mary Queen of Scotts. Only 7-ears before Henry's was born, Queen Elizabeth had ordered the execution of her cousin Mary, James's mother. This of course was all before his father had become King of England. Scottish Prince Henry Frederick was born Stirling Castle, the son of Scotland's King James VI (1594). Prince Henry was the first child of James and his Danish wife Anne. As was common in monarchies, he was celebrated as guaranteeing the succession of the Stuart bloodline. Days after birth, he was taken away from his mother despite her protests. Henry also guarateed the Protestant succession. King James believed Henry needed to be kept safe and, at just days old, he was taken from his mother and fostered into the care of the Mar family. Stirtling Castle was much safer than Edinbrgh. The Mar family were the hereditary keepers of Stirling Castle and historically the guardians of Scottish princes. Anne began a bold campaign to regain possession of her son. She actively recruited as many allies in court as she could. James was furioos. He instructed the Earl of Mar to refuse , under any circumstances, to give up Prince Henry unless James personally gave his pemission. He even ordered Mar not to turn Henry over if he died. Therewere both privaste and public arguments. But they manage to conceive another child. One might expect it would let lead to reconciliation, but their quarles ctually got worse. There were public screaming matches leaving Anne icrying. Obe resulted in a miscarriage (1595). The arguments finally ceased. Reports suggest Anne was just too heartbroken to continue. But then an issuebroke ot over Anne's ladies in waiting. After Elizbeth died and James took the throne of England (1603), became James I of England. Prince Henry by this time was 9 years old. James still tried to keep Prince Henry from Anne and there was another mscairage, but Ann refused to come to Lonson without her son. . We do do not we have details on his relationship with his younger brothers and sisters, except that he was very close to his sister Elizabeth.

Childhood Clothing

In the painting Prince Henry wears an elaborately embroidered suit consisting of doublet, trunk hose (stuffed with "bombast" to extend far out around his hips), long silk stockings (notice the Order of the Garter around his left leg), and shoes with rosettes on the instep. The suit has an elaborate collar made partly of stiffened lace. He wears a sword on a beautifully worked "girdle" or "hanger". His high-crowned hat with white plumes rests on a table nearby. It is interesting that Henry in the full-length portrait here is wearing "trunk hose" (the short bloomerlike trousers worn with thigh-length stockings). This style was an Elizabethan 16th century style for the most part rather than Jacobean. It had largely gone out of style by the turn of the 17th century and the reign of James I. It is curious that Henry chose to be painted in a slightly outmoded style. He was about 16 years old when this portrait was painted and we can thus assume that he would have choen how to dress rather being outfitted by his parents are dressing at the direction of the artist. And we note that Peke painted Henry in more contemprary clothing in the hunting portrait with Sir John Harington when Prince Henry was younger. So we are left with the question of why Prince Henry chose a earlier fashion for this portrait. We have no historical informastion and can only guess. We know that Prince Henry was considered something of a fashion plate in the early 17th century. His father, James I, never wore trunk hose (so far as I know) and is always depicted wearing breeches that come to slightly above the knee. The fact that James did not wear them may have been a factor in them going out of style. Henry also wore the breeches style, which as we see in the hunting portrait was more contemporary in the early 17th century. It may well be that the Prince wanted to show off his athletic legs which woyld have been covered in the more contemprary knee breeches. This may well be a bit of royal vanity. One thing we are quite sure of, both the trunk hose here and the knee breeches in the hunting portrait were styles worn by boyh boys and adult men. Boys as soon as they were breeched wore the same styles as their fathers. There were no boyish styles.

Siblings

James and Anne despite their issue had eight children, but though only three lived to adulthood. Henry (1594) was the eldest. A stillborn child was born (1595). Elizabeth (1596) was the cloest to Henry. Elizabeth was born in 1596 at Dunfermline. We do know that he was very close to Elizabeth. As a young man, Henry showed a great interest in the selection of Elizabeth's husband, both a personal and diplomatic question. The chouice was Frederick, Elector Palatine. Henry's last world were 'where is my dear sister?'. She married Frederick V, Elector of Palatine of the Rhine, King of Bohemia 1619-1620. She had 13 children and. was known as the "The Winter Queen", Queen of Bohemia. She died in 1662 at Leicester House, London, England. Margaret Stuart (1598) lived only 2 years. Margaret was born in 1598 and died as a very young child in 1600 at Dalkeith Palace, Linlithgow. Charles was born in 1600 at Dunfermline, Scotland. He acceded to English throne upon death of his father in 1625. We are not sure about the relationship between the two. Charles lived in his older brother's shadow until Henry's untimely death. He proved to have been one of the least successful English king and after the Civil war was executed by Cromwell. James and Anne had another son was in May 1603 born at Stirling Castle, but did not survive. Mary Stuart (1605) lived only 3 years. Sophia was born in 1606, but lived only 1 day. The last child was born (1607). The royal couple by thta time was living in separate palaces. The final miscarriage convinced Anne not have any further pregnancis. By that time point, James was only visiting to create more children. Their marriage basically ended. King James allowed her younger sons Charles and Robert to stay with her at Dunfermline and Dalkeith Palace. This mustvexplain the very different outlok of Henry abd charles. l

Sir John Harington

While we do not know a great deal about Henry's childhood, one of his childhood friends was John Harington. The fact that they were painted together about 1603 by Robert Peake the Elder is a strong indication that the two were very close. The Prince of Wales would not have been painted with just anyone. The painting depicts a hunting scene. This would have been something that young aristocrats would have receled in, especially an athletic young man like Henry. We are not sure, howeverm just how active Henry was. At his age some consideration would had to be take over the prince's safty. We do not know a great deal about John Harington. We note that the Water Closet is invented by poet Sir John Harington, presumably that was the father of the John Haringtom in the portrait. Sir John was created a Baron--Baron Harington of Exton (1603). Baron Harington the elder died at Worms while returning from the Palatinate (1613). He was there working on the marriage of Henry's brother Elizabeth. His son, the boy pictured in the portait with Henry, died a year later without issue (1614).

Education

The young prince was raised by strict governors to be a stirling example of a Renaissance Protestant monarch and was looked on to secure the Stuart dynasty for generations tocome. King James took a serious interest in his yongest son'seducation. Henry was educated in ll aspects of kingship. King James even wrote a book to advise him as to his future role - Basilikon Doron. A a result of his instruction, Henry was a fervent Protestant. .

Prince of Wales

Henry Frederick as the elest son became the Prince of Wales. His other titles included Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Lord of the Isles, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester.

Popularity

We are not sure what his attitude toward Parliament was. Differences over the roles of the monarchy and parliament were what was to cost Henry's brother Charles his head. Henry was probanly too young when he died to have formed an opinion other than his father's opinion. But he is nwn to nhave quarelked with huis father.

Religion

Henry was a fervent Protestant. Here his mother as a Danish princess much have been a factor. Had he have become king, the fate of the Stuarts may have been very different. At least he could have not managed affairs any worse than Charles, or at least it is difficult how this would have been possible.

Death

Henry died in November 6, 1612 of typhoid fever at St. James Palace in England. The sudden death of such a healty, verile young man shocked the nation. Many funeral elegies by such literary giants as John Donne, George Chapman, John Webster and Henry King were written to mourn his early passing.

Charles I

Prince Henry Frederick's younger brother Charles (Charles I) became king in 1625 on the death of their father, King James. Charles' reign proved disaterous for England, resulting in Civil War. Charles himself was executed when he continued to plot, even after his defeat.

Created: March 28, 2004
Last updated: 9:39 AM 7/6/2025