Freddie Mercury, the iconic and flamboyant frontman of Queen, shared an extraordinary connection with Mary Austin, a quiet working-class woman from West London. Their bond transcended their ended engagement, a consequence of Mercury revealing his homosexuality. He consistently referred to her as “the love of my life” and confided in her first about his AIDS diagnosis.
Until his death at 45 in 1991, Mary was a constant presence at his bedside, providing unwavering care. Subsequently, she inherited a significant portion of his vast estate, including half of his assets and his opulent 28-bedroom mansion in Kensington, London.
This substantial inheritance, however, has been described as a ‘curse’ by some. Mary faced subsequent relationship breakdowns, health challenges, and a strained relationship with the remaining members of Queen. Surrounded by memories of Freddie, she eventually made the difficult decision to auction his memorabilia in 2023 and put the Kensington property on the market in February 2024.
“The time has come for me to take the difficult decision to close this very special chapter in my life,” Mary stated, marking the end of an era deeply intertwined with her relationship with the legendary singer, both in his life and after his passing.
This week, it was revealed that Freddie’s sister, Kashmira, privately spent €3 million to acquire many of the auctioned items, driven by a desire to keep his belongings within the family.
Mary, now 74, first met the 24-year-old Freddie in 1969 when she was just 19. Her early life stood in stark contrast to his burgeoning stardom. Growing up in a modest household with deaf parents, she left school at 15. Yet, she demonstrated resilience, eventually working her way up to a PR role at the trendy Biba boutique.
It was in nearby Kensington Market where Freddie and Queen drummer Roger Taylor ran a stall selling vintage clothing and Freddie’s artwork. Recalling their first encounter, Mary said, “He was like no one I had met before. He was very confident, and I have never been that confident. We grew together – I liked him and it went on from there.”
“It took about three years for me to really fall in love. But I had never
Their early romance saw them sharing a small flat, a testament to their humble beginnings. As Queen’s success grew following their record deal, they moved to a larger apartment.
On Christmas Day in 1973, Freddie proposed to the 23-year-old Mary with a jade ring presented within layers of boxes. “I looked at it and was speechless. I remember thinking, ‘I don’t understand what’s going on,'” she recounted. “It wasn’t what I’d expected at all. So I asked him, ‘Which hand should I put this on?’ And he said, ‘Ring finger, left hand.’ And then he said, ‘Because, will you marry me?’ I was shocked. It just so wasn’t what I was expecting. I just whispered, ‘Yes, I will.’”
Even as his fiancée, Mary recognized Freddie’s undeniable stage presence and charisma. However, as Queen’s ascent to fame began, Mary sensed a shift, unaware of the true nature of his inner world.
