Tuberculosis killed the 27-year-old princess.In this serious and substantial book, Fraser quotes sensitively from confidential letters. Some are indirect, coded (Sophia discussing her illegitimate son), others scorching (Amelia's billet-doux), making us voyeurs of their intimacy. Particularly touching is how the surviving sisters embraced change so late in life. Augusta, having always wished to travel, first quitted England in 1821 aged 53.

Balancing the six lives proves a hard act but Fraser keeps expert control over her material. Occasionally the sentences are so packed with information, it takes two readings to arrive at the meaning. Finally the Princess Royal landed the obese Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Wurttemberg, described by Napoleon as being put on earth "to see how tight you could stretch, without bursting''. Augusta may have secretly married her lover General Sir Brent Spencer and Amelia was desperate to do the same with her General Fitzroy. "I mean to keep you in bed for a week at least when we marry," she told him It wasn't to be.

After the stillbirth of a daughter Charlotte too ballooned out and had to be carried about in a chair Having strayed sexually, Sophia could not hope for marriage. Their parents believed girls as capable as boys and for the older princesses hired a governess who spoke seven languages The sisters played cricket, football and hockey. In infantile letters to their attendants they demonstrate a huge capacity for affection, apologising for being silly about eating rhubarb or punching the servants.The three younger daughters' schooling was less ambitious. Other matters now preoccupied the queen - notably the monarch's bouts of madness. While the king was being physically restrained, his daughters felt pinioned by their duty to their bad-tempered mother Princely suitors came - and went. His dutiful daughters worshipped him, even though it was largely "the dear angel'' who prevented them marrying.Everyone knew of the unlawful marriages and vices of their brothers.