Princess Victoria with her spaniel Dash, by Sir George Hayter, 1833
When she was 14, Princess Victoria was given a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, whom she named Dash. Victoria had few, if any, childhood friends as she was raised largely isolated from other children under the so called “Kensington System”, an elaborate set of rules and protocols devised by the Duchess and Conroy.The only girl of a similar age with whom she had regular contact was Conroy’s youngest daughter, Victoire, but they seemed to have had only a formal acquaintanceship. In her diary, Victoria refers to Victoire as “Miss Conroy” but the dog is showered with endearments: “dear sweet little Dash” and “dear Dashy”.
Dash remained with Victoria after her accession as Queen in 1837. Following her coronation on 28 June 1838, Victoria returned to Buckingham Palace and ran up to her rooms to give Dash his usual bath.Dash died at the end of 1840, and was buried at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park. A marble effigy was erected over the grave, bearing the inscription:
Here lies
DASH
The favourite spaniel of Her Majesty Queen Victoria
In his 10th year
His attachment was without selfishness
His playfulness without malice
His fidelity without deceit
READER
If you would be beloved and die regretted
Profit by the example of
DASH