Another royal who had Porphyria was Frederic the Great--and there are certainly blood ties between his line and the British royal line! You might want to read Nancy Mitford's biography of Frederic--it's the best one available of this particular monarch, and it does address this illness.

As for high tolerance, I do have a relatively high tolerance for pain meds, and many years ago I actually woke up during surgery! I can still vividly remember the consternation of the surgical team, and someone saying, "Get her back under, quick!"

Luckily, it's never given me nightmares over the years--just a few chuckles!

thanks for the reading clue Keely. I wonder which Fred that is, there are so many Freds in that German line. I suppose only one "the Great". These people passed Porphyria back and forth across the Chanel. queen Victoria's daughter was DNA'd and diagnosed after her death (her family allowed her bones to be exhumed, as portrayed in The Purple Secret.) This means either Queen or Prince Albert had it, maybe both as they were first cousins. Queen Victoria's daughter Vicki had married a Prince Frederick of one of the German states, but I don't think it was Fred the Great. Their child was the catastrophic Kaiser Wilhelm, who, with the Prime Minister brought on war with England. I will definitely get Mitford's book--that is one clue I missed. I am limp and unable to do my work today, after babysitting 3 afternoons in the heat. I feel very very depressed. Would love to have help but there is none.