Historian Claims US Woman May Descend From Queen Victoria’s Secret Love Child

Historian Fern Riddell has presented new evidence suggesting that Queen Victoria had a secret romantic relationship with her manservant, John Brown, which may have resulted in a secret child. Angela Webb-Milinkovich, a mental health practitioner from Minnesota, is identified as a potential descendant of this alleged love child, a claim she is willing to verify through DNA testing. Riddell's research, detailed in her book Victoria's Secret and a Channel 4 documentary, includes previously undisclosed diary entries, a cast of Brown's hand commissioned by Victoria after his death, and familial heirlooms said to have belonged to the queen and Brown. The relationship, which has been the subject of rumors and a 1997 film, remains controversial with some historians dismissing it, but Riddell argues that the evidence indicates the two were more than just friends. Webb-Milinkovich grew up hearing family stories about this lineage and embraces the possibility despite her non-royal appearance and lifestyle. The claim, if proven, would significantly alter the historical understanding of Queen Victoria's personal life and lineage.