Queen Victoria and Ildikó Keresztes reflect on restrictive childhoods

Historical accounts detail the restrictive upbringing of Queen Victoria, who lived under the ‘Kensington System.’ Developed by her mother, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and Sir John Conroy, this oppressive method of supervision ensured the future monarch remained dependent on her mother. The rules were so stringent that Victoria was not permitted to have her own bedroom and slept in her mother’s room until she was 18 years old. The system aimed to limit her independence and control her social interactions to maintain influence over her once she ascended the throne.

In contemporary news, singer Ildikó Keresztes has spoken about the lasting impact of her own childhood trauma. She described growing up under strict discipline within the world of gymnastics, where maintaining a low weight was prioritized. Keresztes noted that the pressure to remain thin led to lifelong habits regarding food and discipline, including strict fasting and rigorous lifestyle management to maintain her physical form for performances.