For 35 years, Mary Austin kept quiet about the most personal side of her relationship with Freddie Mercury, the late frontman of Queen. Now 75, she has finally opened up in an interview with The Guardian, timed to coincide with what would have been Mercury’s 80th birthday and the upcoming release of “Freddie Mercury: A Life in Lyrics,” a book featuring his handwritten lyrics, photos, and Austin’s own reflections.
Mercury, who died in 1991 at age 45, entrusted Austin with one especially sensitive task: keeping the location where his ashes were scattered a permanent secret. She has honored that wish ever since, even withholding it from his own family, saying she understands the decision may have caused pain but that it was the responsibility he asked her to carry.
Their bond, which began as a romance before evolving into a deep friendship, was also reflected in his will. Mercury left Austin his London home, Garden Lodge, along with 50 percent of his estate and future royalties. She initially resisted accepting the house, but Mercury insisted it would have been hers had their relationship taken a different path.
In 2023, Austin sold part of Mercury’s belongings at a Sotheby’s auction that raised roughly 40 million pounds (about $50 million), a move that drew criticism from some fans. She said she simply didn’t want to leave such a large collection for her children to manage. Asked if Mercury was the love of her life, she answered simply: yes.
Read the full interview at the source for more details on their remarkable story.
Source: La mujer que Freddie Mercury eligió para heredar su casa y parte de su fortuna habló por primera vez tras 35 años (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Neon Nine, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).