Queen Victoria's secret love affair

Welcome to the History Extra podcast, fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History magazine. Ever since the 1870s, rumors have swirled around the relationship between Queen Victoria and her Highland servant, John Brown. Were the pair in love? Could they have got married? And might they even have had a secret child?

In her new book, Victoria's Secret, historian Fern Riddell investigates these claims and has made some dramatic new discoveries that she believes could cast the story in a new light. I spoke to Fern to find out more. Fern, you offer a new take on the relationship between Queen Victoria and her Highland servant John Brown in your new book, Victoria's Secret. Before we get into your new findings on this matter, can you give us some context on the story for anyone who's not so familiar? So where do we find Victoria at this point in her life and who was John Brown?

The story of John Brown and Queen Victoria is one that has floated around the corners of our culture for 160 years. And I think it's something that people think they know about but aren't really sure of the information. We meet Victoria when she's just lost Albert, who we believe has been the love of her life, and she's devastated and grieving, and this strapping, handsome Highland servant who she knew very well at Balmoral, steps into her life and becomes her constant companion for the next twenty years. Now, most people may have heard of John Brown or be aware of the situation, but the official line has

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