Victoria’s childhood at Kensington Palace was not an entirely happy one. Her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and her ambitious adviser, Sir John Conroy, bought her up very strictly. They controlled who Victoria was allowed to see – she had very few friends her own age – and they kept her away from Court.
Victoria had a vast range of hobbies and interests to brighten these lonely hours. She loved to sing, to draw, to play music and to ride her horse in Kensington Gardens. She also adored her little King Charles spaniel, Dash, who she showered with affection. She even dressed him up in a red jacket and trousers from time to time.
Dash
As a young princess, Victoria had several Shetland ponies, horses, dogs and even a parrot called Lory. Of all her pets, Victoria’s favourite was Dash, a King Charles spaniel. Dash belonged to Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent, but the princess soon adopted him. He remained her near constant companion throughout her teenage years. Immediately after her coronation in 1838, she returned home to give Dash a bath. He died in 1840, and is buried in Windsor Home Park under a tombstone bearing an inscription which Victoria wrote herself.
Music
Victoria received instruction in music from a young age. As a teenager, she had “delightful lessons” from the famous opera singer Luigi LaBlache. As a child, Victoria attended the ballet and opera as frequently as possible, and even dressed several of her dolls as her favourite characters from the stage.
