An extraordinary claim has emerged from an American woman who asserts a direct lineage to Queen Victoria, potentially as her illegitimate “great, great granddaughter.” Angela Webb-Milinkovich, a mental health care worker from Minnesota, seeks official recognition from King Charles for her and her sister’s purported royal ancestry, stemming from an alleged secret relationship between the late monarch and her beloved servant, John Brown. This revelation challenges conventional historical narratives and opens a new chapter in the enduring fascination with the British royal family’s past.

The foundation of Ms. Webb-Milinkovich’s claim rests on new research conducted by historian Dr. Fern Riddell. Dr. Riddell’s findings suggest that Angela’s great-grandmother, Mary Anne, while officially recorded as the child of John Brown’s brother Hugh and his wife Jessie, might actually have been the lovechild of Queen Victoria and John Brown. This reinterpretation of historical records provides a compelling, albeit speculative, link to the Victorian era’s most prominent figure.

The nature of Queen Victoria’s bond with her Scottish servant, John Brown, has long been a subject of historical debate and public fascination. While never officially confirmed as intimate, numerous royal watchers and academics have explored their unusually close relationship, often hinting at a deeper, romantic connection. This alleged intimacy forms the crux of the claim, positing a hidden chapter in the Queen’s life that could have profound implications for historical understanding of the British Monarchy.

Ms. Webb-Milinkovich’s primary objective is not financial gain but rather the acknowledgement and validation of her family’s history. In a new documentary, as reported by the Express, she articulated her desire for the Royal Family to cease denying the relationship between Victoria and Brown. Her earnest plea underscores a quest for historical truth and familial identity, aiming to ensure that this suppressed narrative finally receives due recognition, perhaps even via a DNA test.

Reaching “for the top,” Ms. Webb-Milinkovich believes King Charles is the key figure to address her plea. She perceives the story as highly engaging, involving his own family history, and therefore potentially of significant interest to him. This appeal to the reigning monarch highlights the gravity of her request and the potential impact of royal acknowledgement on her family’s narrative, shedding light on a fascinating piece of royal history.

Dr. Riddell’s extensive four-year research for her book, “Victoria’s Secret,” unearthed crucial details, including the emigration of childless Jessie and Hugh to New Zealand in 1865 and Mary Ann’s subsequent birth registration there. The historian posited that Victoria could have feasibly concealed a pregnancy in the 1860s, suggesting the possibility that her tenth child was sent away to avert a significant royal scandal, thus protecting the British Monarchy’s image.

Despite the lack of official confirmation regarding an intimate relationship, Queen Victoria’s profound love and admiration for John Brown were undeniably evident throughout her life. A poignant letter sent by the Queen to Brown’s brother after his death reportedly quoted their exchange, “Afterwards I told him no one loved him more than I did … and he answered ‘nor you – than me. No one loves you more.'” This emotional testament, combined with her commissioning of statues and memorials (later destroyed by Edward VII), underscores the depth of their extraordinary bond and its place in royal history.

Further proof of Victoria’s enduring affection for Brown is found in her specific burial instructions. Upon her death in January 1901, her coffin, alongside Prince Albert’s gown and a casket of his hand, was to contain a lock of Brown’s hair and his photograph, discreetly placed in her left hand, concealed by flowers. This highly personal arrangement reveals a desire to keep Brown close even in death, a powerful symbol of their connection and a key detail in this royal history narrative.

Ms. Webb-Milinkovich’s perspective, as shared in the Channel 4 documentary “Queen Victoria: Secret Marriage Secret Child?”, emphasizes the eventual necessity of acknowledging this historical truth. She passionately advocates for the recognition of their love and condemns the alleged attempts to cover up and destroy evidence of their relationship, particularly by Edward VII. Her sentiment, “You don’t get that kind of romance every day,” encapsulates the enduring power of this extraordinary royal mystery, potentially solved by a DNA test.