Factinate
✕


The Stolen Princess In Queen Victoria’s Court

July 29, 2024 | Penelope Singh

The Stolen Princess In Queen Victoria’s Court


Strong, intelligent, and best known as Queen Victoria’s African goddaughter, Sarah Forbes Bonetta led an extraordinary life. Her experiences, however, were far from idyllic.

Though history remembers her as “Sarah Forbes Bonetta,” that wasn't actually her name, at least not at her birth. Born in 1843 in Oke-Odan, a West African village in what is present-day Nigeria, her family originally called her "Omoba Aina," which roughly translates “Princess Aina” in English.

Unfortunately, this princess didn’t spend her early years living in the lap of luxury. Her situation was far more grim.

She was captured as a slave, and later raised as the queen’s ward in English high society. But if her time in England revealed anything, it’s that any cage, no matter how gilded, is still just a cage.

More from Factinate

Horrible Friends Experience
EXPERIENCE

With Horrible Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?

We have one piece of advice for the poor people who shared these stories of brutal backstabs and horrific secrets: find better friends!
June 19, 2020 Miles Brucker
Overheard Behemoth
EXPERIENCE

Overheard Once, Forgotten Never: These Hurtful Comments Crushed Us

Even the best of us can't help but eavesdrop every now and again—but sometimes, we hear things that we never wanted to know.
June 18, 2020 Miles Brucker
Wildest Pranks Ever
EXPERIENCE

Absolute Legends: The Wildest Pranks Ever Pulled

I was a lifeguard in high school. It was a great job, except for my lazy co-worker—but that changed after the wildest prank ever pulled.
June 17, 2020 Scott Mazza
awkward moments editorial
EXPERIENCE

“I Couldn’t Believe My Eyes”: Utterly Insane Real-Life Discoveries

Whether it’s a forbidden affair, a long lost relative, or a chilling double life, these people prove that nothing—and we mean nothing—is ever as it seems.
June 11, 2020 Miles Brucker
Betrayals Experience
EXPERIENCE

Stabbed In The Back: These Real-Life Betrayals Are Straight Up Brutal

There's nothing worse than a chilling betrayal that we never saw coming—but when it happens, there are two options: get mad, or get even.
June 5, 2020 Miles Brucker
Deadly Comebacks
EXPERIENCE

Absolutely Perfect Comebacks

There are deadly comebacks, and then there are burns so epic that they go down in history. There’s a difference, and these people have firsthand experience.
June 3, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.

Dark Family Secrets

Dark Family Secrets Exposed

Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
April 8, 2020 Samantha Henman

Featured Article

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.

Madame de Pompadour Facts

Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
December 7, 2018 Kyle Climans

More from Factinate

Horrible Friends Experience
EXPERIENCE

With Horrible Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?

We have one piece of advice for the poor people who shared these stories of brutal backstabs and horrific secrets: find better friends!
June 19, 2020 Miles Brucker
Overheard Behemoth
EXPERIENCE

Overheard Once, Forgotten Never: These Hurtful Comments Crushed Us

Even the best of us can't help but eavesdrop every now and again—but sometimes, we hear things that we never wanted to know.
June 18, 2020 Miles Brucker
Wildest Pranks Ever
EXPERIENCE

Absolute Legends: The Wildest Pranks Ever Pulled

I was a lifeguard in high school. It was a great job, except for my lazy co-worker—but that changed after the wildest prank ever pulled.
June 17, 2020 Scott Mazza
awkward moments editorial
EXPERIENCE

“I Couldn’t Believe My Eyes”: Utterly Insane Real-Life Discoveries

Whether it’s a forbidden affair, a long lost relative, or a chilling double life, these people prove that nothing—and we mean nothing—is ever as it seems.
June 11, 2020 Miles Brucker
Betrayals Experience
EXPERIENCE

Stabbed In The Back: These Real-Life Betrayals Are Straight Up Brutal

There's nothing worse than a chilling betrayal that we never saw coming—but when it happens, there are two options: get mad, or get even.
June 5, 2020 Miles Brucker
Deadly Comebacks
EXPERIENCE

Absolutely Perfect Comebacks

There are deadly comebacks, and then there are burns so epic that they go down in history. There’s a difference, and these people have firsthand experience.
June 3, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.

These People Got Genius Revenges

When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
April 22, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.

Catherine of Aragon Facts

Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
June 7, 2018 Christine Tran


Dear reader,


Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




✕

Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.
✕

Want to read more?

If you like humaverse you may also consider subscribing to these newsletters:

Healthcare AI News
5 minutes or less is all it takes to elevate your Healthcare knowledge with our expert-curated weekly AI newsletter. The Sweaty Startup
Join 46,000+ people who read my weekly newsletter about real-estate, entrepreneurship, and what it takes to succeed long-term. The Yellowbrick Road
Want to make more money in the stock market? Our AI tool reads and summarizes 100s of stock articles every day and sends the best in our free, daily email. Join 10,000+ smart investors.