Queen Victoria and John Brown were lovers, according to Channel 4, which says it has uncovered 'extraordinary' new evidence of the monarch's secret affair. The British monarch of 63 years, from 1837 to 1901, was widely known to have been extremely fond of her Scottish servant. But revelations about long-held rumours they were more than just fast friends are now set to come out in a new documentary, due for release on July 31.