An Aberdeen collector of antiques believes he may have discovered a rare photograph of Victorian royal servant John Brown- and is hunting for experts to verify it.
Callum Rattray picked up the picture as part of an auction lot and was stunned to see what appeared to be the Aberdeenshire-born favourite, and rumoured lover, of Queen Victoria, in a family setting.
The black and white picture shows a stocky man with a big beard by a young girl with a wooden leg, another man standing and a woman seated.
As was the style at the time, their eyes have all been re-drawn on the photograph.
Mr Rattray, who has a wide collection of royal memorabilia, now wants to solve the mystery of who the seated man is.
Brown was born on December 8, 1826, at Crathienaird to Margaret Leys and John Brown.
He went on to work as an outdoor servant at Balmoral Castle, which Queen Victoria and Prince Albert frequently visited.
Following the death of her husband, Brown’s relationship with Queen Victoria is said to have intensified.
It has for decades been at the centre of speculation – with even Her Majesty’s daughters apparently jokingly calling Brown “mama’s lover”.
The relationship was immortalised in the 1997 film Mrs Brown, starring Judy Dench as Victoria and Billy Connelly as Brown.
He died aged 56 at Windsor Castle and is now buried in the grounds of Crathie church, near to the Balmoral estate, where the royals still attend services when on holiday in Scotland.
An inscription on his gravestone reads: “Well done good and faithful servant/Thou hast been faithful over a few things/I will make thee ruler over many things/Enter through into the joy of the Lord.”
Mr Rattray said: “I came into possession of the picture as part of a job lot at the auction house and couldn’t believe that this picture was at the bottom with the other royal items.
“He’s a huge guy and it really looks like John Brown. I just want to know for sure who it is.”
Anyone with information can email calyscot@gmail.com.
