Royal fishmongers, or, A welcome to Billinsgate [graphic].

"The three members of the Royal family who had recently been given the Freedom of the City as members of the Fishmongers' Company are represented as Billingsgate porters, carrying baskets of fish on their heads, and being kissed by Billingsgate women. All wear flat round hats and aprons. Prince Leopold has a German sausage (cf. British Museum Catalogue No. 12759) projecting from his coat-pocket, and another is in his basket. A comely woman puts her arms round his neck, saying, "My dear Boy you are Welcome to Billinsgate, come give us a buss!! Charlotte wont be angry." He answers: "Stop my Dear I lay down my Sole, and give you bit de german saucage." Two women (left) hurry up from the left, eagerly wiping their mouths on their aprons. They say: "By Goles he's a nice fellow Come do make haste Poll," and "That's right Bet! if you dont look sharp we shant get a taste." The Duke of Sussex, fat and good-natured, is beset by two women, one, an Irishwoman, kisses his mouth. He says: "You Hussey you'll upset my Cod!" She answers: "By the Powers if I care about that my Jewel! I'll have a taste of your Jowl, and a rare Jolly one it is!!" A paper projects from his pocket: 'Freedom of the City of London'. In the middle distance (right) stands the Duke of Gloucester, silent between three women who say: "Now let me have the first an I'll carry your fish; Give me the first and I'll carry you and fish too my heart I'll have such a smack," and "You have a smack indeed I'm the girl for smacking & know the true Gloucester go." A woman sitting by her basket (right) drinking gin says: "you may smack there I'll smack here! so God Bless the Royal Fishmongers." Behind are masts and sails with (right) the colonnade of Billingsgate Market on the quay-side."--British Museum online catalogue