Queen Victoria's Last Love

This documentary was a hoot but for all the wrong reasons.

You have descendants talking about their great grandfathers like they actually met them and knew them well.

You have academics pontificating about events without much evidence to go on. In fact we are told at the end that a lot of the documentary evidence was burned hence why we have recreations of some scenes with actors because of the dearth of photographs and other evidence.

The elderly Queen Victoria, Empress of India having lost her previous infatuation, John Brown took a shine to Abdul Karim who was sent over from Indian as a servant. Despite the provocative title of the documentary, she treated him like a son. Anyhow Karim was not really eye candy, judging by the photographs it is clear who ate all the chicken balti pies.

In royal circles Karim was not popular. He was regarded as a man on the make and taking advantage of Queen Victoria. That was their job.

Karim certainly seized his opportunity to make something out of himself, embellish a few stories so he could rise in status and he was given vast lands in Agra.

Those who were jealous of his apparent influence went to India to investigate his background and found that Karim came from lowly stock. I think the clue was that he was sent over from India as a servant!

This was a sensationalist documentary full of innuendo and gossip. A poor show.