Queen Victoria and John Brown were lovers, according to Channel 4, which says it has uncovered ‘extraordinary’ new evidence of the monarch’s secret affair.
The British monarch of 63 years, from 1837 to 1901, was widely known to have been extremely fond of her Scottish servant.
But revelations about long-held rumours they were more than just fast friends are now set to come out in a new documentary, due for release on July 31.
They are based on work by cultural historian Dr Fern Riddell in her new book Victoria’s Secret, set for publication on the same day as the new film.
It has long been thought Victoria spent the years after her beloved husband Prince Albert’s death in 1861, when they were both aged just 42, in deep mourning.
But Dr Riddell has now suggested the mother-of-nine’s midlife was instead deeply passionate – and marked by a full-blown intimate relationship with John.
In fact, sources have said her ‘staggering’ new evidence proves this ‘beyond all doubt’, The Mirror reports.
She will present the hour-long special Queen Victoria’s Secret: The New Evidence alongside TV lawyer Rob Rinder, who will act as ‘a sceptical eye’.
Queen Victoria and John Brown (pictured at Balmoral in 1863) were lovers, according to Channel 4 , which says it has uncovered ‘extraordinary’ new evidence of the monarch’s secret affair
The British monarch (pictured) of 63 years, from 1837 to 1901, was widely known to have been extremely fond of her Scottish servant
But revelations about long-held rumours they were more than just fast friends are now set to come out in a new documentary, due for release on July 31. Pictured: Judi Dench and Billy Connolly as Victoria and John in 1997 film Mrs Brown
Adam Luria, head of documentary at production company Impossible Factual, said: ‘This story has been keep secret for over 160 years, and Fern’s book will shake the very foundations of the British monarchy and rewrite the history of our country.’
Born in 1819, Victoria reigned for 63 years until her death in 1901 aged 81 – making her the longest-serving British monarch at that point, before the late Queen.
She married her German first cousin Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840.
Victoria first grew close to John Brown after she took over the lease to the Balmoral estate in 1848, her beloved Scottish residence, Tatler reports.
Local boy John, then 21, was working as a gillie on the estate, a type of servant who attends on hunting and fishing outings.
Albert also made him leader of the queen’s pony, which saw him accompany her on rides – and the two soon became friends.
But Albert’s death from typhoid in 1861 left Victoria distraught, withdrawing to another of her favourite residences, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
Seeing her mother’s distress, her second eldest daughter Princess Alice, then 18, suggested John travel to the estate with her pony to cheer her up.
Cultural historian Dr Fern Riddell (right) will present the hour-long special Queen Victoria’s Secret: The New Evidence alongside TV lawyer Rob Rinder (left), who will act as ‘a sceptical eye’
It is based on work by cultural historian Dr Fern Riddell in her new book Victoria’s Secret , set for publication on the same day as the new film. Pictured: John Brown
Victoria first grew close to John Brown after she took over the lease to the Balmoral estate in 1848, her beloved Scottish residence. Pictured: Billy Connolly and Judi Dench as John and Victoria in 1997 film Mrs Brown
His arrival massively helped the widowed queen and the pair started to spend more and more time together, with John joining her everywhere she went.
Described as ‘large taciturn Highlander with watchful eyes and a face apparently hewn from granite’ by the queen’s private secretary, many said he began to saw himself as her bodyguard.
He was by her side when an assassination attempt was made on her at Buckingham Palace in 1872.
She referred to him as ‘darling’ in letters and were even said to have slept in adjoining rooms – which foreign secretary Earl of Derby called ‘contrary to etiquette and even decency’.
Victoria’s children and servants were unhappy about their close companionship – while the press mockingly nicknamed her ‘Mrs Brown’.
But he sadly died from an infection in 1883, with Victoria commissioning her favourite poet Alfred Lord Tennyson to write the inscription on his tomb.
Her close companion of more than 20 years was buried in Crathie Kirkyard at the Royal Family’s favoured church.
She wrote to former home secretary Viscount Cranbrook mourning him as ‘one of the most remarkable men’.
Victoria first grew close to John Brown (pictured, portrayed by Judi Dench and Billy Connolly in 1997 film Mrs Brown) after she took over the lease to the Balmoral estate in 1848, her beloved Scottish residence
Albert’s death from typhoid in 1861 left Victoria distraught, withdrawing to another of her favourite residences, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Pictured: Victoria and Albert
After John’s death, she is said to have started work on a biography of him. Pictured: Victoria with John (centre, in kilt) at Windsor in 1881
‘Perhaps never in history was there so strong and true an attachment, so warm and loving a friendship between the sovereign and servant…’, she penned.
After his death, she is said to have started work on a biography of him.
But her advisors, fearing speculation about a romance between the pair, expressed their disapproval and it is thought the manuscript was destroyed.
It has also been claimed John’s diaries and a memoir by Victoria about their relationship were destroyed too.
And indeed, a priest named Norman Macleod claimed, on his deathbed in 1885, to have presided over a wedding between Victoria and John at Crathie Kirk.
Victoria was buried with his mother’s wedding ring on her right hand and a photograph of him in her left.
Also in her coffin were a lock of his hair and several of his letters.
Their rumoured romance has been the subject of contention and controversy for years – and Dr Riddell’s work purports to put an end to the debate once and for all.
A priest named Norman Macleod claimed, on his deathbed in 1885, to have presided over a wedding between Victoria and John (pictured) at Crathie Kirk
Victoria was buried with his mother’s wedding ring on her right hand and a photograph of him in her left. Pictured: Judi Dench and Billy Connolly as Victoria and John in 1997 film Mrs Brown
Her close companion of more than 20 years was buried in Crathie Kirkyard at the Royal Family’s favoured church. Pictured: His tombstone
Channel 4 commissioning editor Emily Shields said: ‘It’s so rare to find brand new evidence relating to well-known figures in history but Dr Fern Riddell’s research into the relationship between Queen Victoria and John Brown is extraordinary.
‘It will be thrilling to see Rob Rinder interrogate the details and ask if it’s time for the history of The Widow of Windsor to be re-written.’
Steve Maher, executive producer on the new documentary, said: ‘This is a project that we’ve been developing with Fern for some time, and we are really excited to be working with Channel 4 to explore this compelling new take on the life and loves of Queen Victoria.’
Dr Riddell’s other works include The Victorian Guide to Sex: Desire and Deviance in the 19th Century and Sex: Lessons From History.
