'Despite its wealth and social prominence the family found that it was unable to isolate itself from the stench, pollution and health hazards of the day...Probably as a consequence of the poor drainage system, the father contracted one of the most lethal and dreaded of what the Victorians called 'filth diseases' - 'bowel fever' or typhoid ...The mother had had typhoid herself when she was sixteen and quite understandably she dreaded the disease, which was a major killer...This family, with its troubles, tragedies, and near-tragedies from bad sewers and filth diseases, forced to live amidst stink and water and air pollution, was the Royal Family, of Victoria, Albert and their children.'