Victoria: May Blossom of Britannia, England, 1829

In 1829, nine-year-old Victoria begins a journal chronicling her life as an English princess, in a title which includes information on the reign, marriage, and family life of Queen Victoria and English civilization during that period. 29 MAY ...I had to kiss His Majesty's hand. Really, one kisses the air over his hand, and that's a good thing, for he's so glistening with lotions and powders to cover the liver spots on his skin, which he hates... Aunt Soap says he was a beautiful lad when he was young. "Prinny was the handsomest Prince ever. His curls were the colour of honey on toast, like that red-gold Russian sable the Princess de Lieven wears." Now, unfortunately, his beauty has quite fled. Perhaps he does wear a corset, as I once heard Lady C. remark--though I can't see that it does much good. (I'm sure she would be shocked to know I overheard. But I do wonder why so many people seem to think a young person's ears do not work unless they are instructed to by some adult.)