Dash, Queen Victoria’s King Charles Spaniel

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Princess Victoria with Dash by George Hayter, 1833: Credit – Wikipedia

Dash was a King Charles Spaniel with a white coat and patches of black and tan owned by Queen Victoria.  Born in 1830, Dash came into the household on January 14, 1833, as a gift from Sir John Conroy to Victoria’s mother The Duchess of Kent. Victoria was 13 years old when Dash came into her mother’s household and because she was largely isolated from other children, the princess soon became attached to Dash. At Christmas 1833, Victoria gave Dash a set of rubber balls and two pieces of gingerbread. Victoria often wrote about Dash in her diary calling him “dear sweet little Dash” and “dear Dashy”.

Dash remained with Victoria after her accession to the throne and along with the Queen, he moved to Buckingham Palace. Victoria was very worried about how Dash would feel in his new environment but the spaniel adjusted well and enjoyed romping in the palace gardens. Upon her return to Buckingham Palace after her coronation on June 28, 1838, Victoria ran to her rooms to give Dash his bath.

A pencil drawing by Princess Victoria showing her beloved King Charles Spaniel Dash. He is shown seated, facing forward. Inscribed below: Dash /our dog./ P.V.del from nature. Jan 11th 1836; Credit – https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/980016-em

Victoria’s love for Dash very quickly became public knowledge and she began to receive different dogs as presents. She accepted all the dogs and Lord Melbourne, her first Prime Minister, joked that Victoria would soon sink into a sea of dogs. Dash, however, remained Victoria’s favorite pet.

Dash died on December 24, 1840, which greatly upset Victoria. He was buried at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park. Over Dash’s grave, a marble effigy was erected with 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

Dash (left) with Lory (parrot), Nero (greyhound) and Hector (Scottish deerhound) by Edwin Henry Landseer, 1838; Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Victoria and her family had many pets, including:

  • Alma – a Shetland pony given by King Victor Emmanuel
  • Dandie – a Skye terrier
  • Dash – a King Charles spaniel
  • Eos – a greyhound that Prince Albert brought from Germany
  • Flora – a Shetland pony given by King Victor Emmanuel
  • Goats –  Upon her accession to the throne, Queen Victoria was presented with a pair of Tibetan goats by the Shah of Iran. From these two goats, a royal goat herd was established at Windsor and then goats from this herd were then used as regimental mascots by the British Army.
  • Nero – a greyhound
  • Islay – a Skye terrier who died after losing a fight with a cat
  • Jacquot – a donkey
  • Unknown name – a lory, a medium-sized parrot
  • Marco –  the first of Queen Victoria’s many Pomeranians.
  • Hector – a deerhound
  • Noble – Queen Victoria’s favorite collie.  Her daughter Princess Louise, who was a talented sculptor, created a statue of Noble which is in Osborne House.
  • Picco – a Sardinian pony
  • Sharp – a collie
  • Turi – a Pomeranian who lay on Queen Victoria’s deathbed at her request
  • Coco – an African grey parrot

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