I recall a similar story from a visit to Bath two years ago. Apparently the local paper, reporting a visit by the then-Princess Victoria, commented on her plain dress. In pique, she never visited the city again.
Checking this story again now, I cannot find a reference to the newspaper/plain dress version of the story. However, the web site of the Royal Crescent Society, Bath, (www.royalcrescentbath.com <https://akira.winchester.ac.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.royalcrescentbath.com> ) states that when she opened the Royal Victoria Park in 1830, a comment was made about the thickness of her ankles. This somehow reached the Princess, causing her to shun the city for evermore.
Bath was later to receive a visit from Prince Albert. According to this web site, he was unable to identify the Mayor from among the receiving party of dignitaries, since they were all wearing identical robes. As a result, Queen Victoria decreed that the Mayor should wear his own robe and a chain of office.
Rosalind Johnson
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