Dash was the first of many dogs in Queen Victoria's life. He truly was her best friend during her younger years.
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| Painting of Dash |
Victoria's childhood was not easy. She was raised under the Kensington System, a set of strict rules and regulations that were designed to make her weak and dependent on her mother, the Duchess of Kent. The only child of a similar age she had contact with was the daughter of Sir John Conroy (the Comptroller of the Duchess's household) but their friendship was more of a formal acquaintanceship.
Dash, a King Charles Spaniel, came into Victoria's life in 1833 when she was a teenager and the dog and Princess soon became inseparable. She would dress him in a scarlet jacket and blue trousers, give him gifts at Christmas, and refer to him as "dear sweet little Dash" and "dear Dashy" in her diary.
Dash remained with Victoria after her accession to the throne in 1837, and after her coronation, the first thing Queen Victoria did when she returned to Buckingham Palace was give Dash his bath. It is also said that Prince Albert won Victoria's heart because of his kindness towards Dash. The two married in 1840, the same year Dash passed away at the age of ten. The Queen buried Dash herself at Adelaide Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle, with the epitaph "...His attachment was without selfishness, His playfulness without malice, His fidelity without deceit, Reader, if you would live beloved and die regretted, profit by the example of Dash."
I want to thank Claire for suggesting this topic.
