Welcome to the History Extra podcast, fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History Magazine.

Ever since the 1870s, rumours 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 20 years. Now, most people may have heard of John Brown or be aware of the situation,

but the official line has always been that he was just a servant or, at best, a good friend.

And what I have spent the last four years doing is trying to find out whether or not that was true.

So there have always been three

rumours around Victoria and John's relationship, where they actually lovers, did they get

married, and was there a child? And Victoria's secret is my investigation, my pursuit of the

truth that I could find of each of those things. And for me, I don't know how

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