Avondale Park Gardens, W11

Place Name

Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (January 8, 1864 – January 14, 1892) was the eldest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) and grandson of the reigning monarch, Queen Victoria. He was born in Berkshire and at the behest of his grandmother was named Albert Victor, after herself and her late husband. His short life was dogged with controversy and scandal – although nothing was ever conclusively proved. He was linked with the Cleveland Street scandal, in which he and other high-ranking members of society were said to have been at a homosexual brothel; it has also been suggested that he was Jack the Ripper. The Duke, who had just become engaged to Princess Mary of Teck, died at suddenly at Sandringham during an influenza pandemic in the same year the park was formed. Clarence is believed to refer to Clare in Suffolk; Avondale refers to the valley of the Avon Water in Scotland.

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