But, a new archive of letters, pictures and Karim''s "lost diary", held secretly by his family for over a century, sheds new light on the controversial relationship between the Queen and the youth from Agra who rose from a royal waiter to becoming her decorated Indian secretary.
In fact, Indian author Shrabani Basu has discovered the documents after penning ''Victoria & Abdul'' -- her book on the remarkable relationship between the Queen and her servant, ''The Daily Telegraph'' reported.
The documents tell the story of how Karim arrived in England in 1887 and quickly gained the affection of a Monarch 42 years his senior.
"I came to England as orderly to the Queen... It is a much higher position than the orderly of the British Army who is simply a private soldier selected to attend an officer as a personal servant carrying his orders etc," Karim writes in his personal diary.
On arriving in London on the recommendation of Dr Tyler who his superior officer at India's Central Jail, Karim notes, he visits the zoo and Madame Tussauds. Yet sightseeing was not Karim''s prime purpose; he is there to meet the Queen.
He recounts the first audience: "Dr Tyler and I were instructed to take our station near the dining room and wait her Majesty''s coming. I was somewhat nervous at the approach of the Great Empress who soon entered accompanied by HRH the Duke of Connaught and Princess Beatrice.
"Dr Tyler at once did homage by kneeling, whilst I did the same in Oriental style. I presented nazars, or gifts by exposing, in the palms of my hands, a gold mohar (a coin) which Her Majesty touched and remitted as is Indian custom.
The Queen was thereafter pleased to speak to Dr Tyler and so ended my interview with the Empress of India." .
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