PHOTO: Freddie Mercury & Mary Austin. DAILY EXPRESS
🎤 A Rock Legend’s Legacy
When Freddie Mercury, iconic frontman of Queen, passed away in 1991 aged just 45, he left behind a fortune worth £37.5 million — the equivalent of $A78 million today.
His beloved 28-bedroom mansion in Kensington, London, along with his share of Queen’s royalties, was left to the woman he once called the “love of his life” — Mary Austin.
“He was like no one I had ever met before.” – Mary Austin
https://www.propertynoise.co.nz/freddie-mercurys-former-london-mansion-for-sale-watch/
🏠 Inside Garden Lodge: Freddie’s Mansion
📍 Location: Kensington, London
🛏️ Bedrooms: 28
💰 Valued At: Offers above £30 million ($A58.4 million)
Freddie and Mary spent most of their time at Garden Lodge, surrounded by rare art and opulent Louis XV furniture. Despite her deep attachment, Mary listed the mansion for sale in February 2024.
🖼️ In 2023, she auctioned off much of Freddie’s memorabilia, closing a chapter of her life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yuL41OaKjE&pp=ygUdRnJlZGRpZSBNZXJjdXJ5ICYgTWFyeSBBdXN0aW4%3D
🧬 Family Rift: Freddie’s Sister Steps In
Freddie’s sister, Kashmira Bulsara, was reportedly devastated to see her brother’s personal treasures leave the family. She secretly spent £3 million ($A6.2 million) buying back auctioned memorabilia.
🎤 Many Queen fans applauded the move, seeing it as a way to preserve Freddie’s legacy within his bloodline.
The pair spent most of their time in Freddie’s London mansion, which she eventually inherited Picture: Barney Hindle/The Post/Getty Images
💔 The “Curse” of Inheritance
While inheriting Freddie’s estate might sound like a dream, for Mary Austin, it turned into what some have called a “curse.”
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Relationships crumbled
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She battled illness
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Faced tension with Queen’s remaining bandmates
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Spent years in emotional isolation
“It was the loneliest and most difficult time of my life after Freddie died,” she admitted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn1m2xzRvjw&pp=ygUXRnJlZGRpZSBNZXJjdXJ5IG1hbnNpb27SBwkJjQkBhyohjO8%3D
🔥 Ashes and Secrets
In a final act of trust, Freddie entrusted Mary with his ashes, asking her never to reveal where they were buried. She waited two years before slipping away quietly and fulfilling his wish. To this day, their location remains a mystery.
🎬 Royalties & Bohemian Rhapsody
Though personal peace has been elusive, Mary continues to benefit financially:
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🎥 Royalties from the 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody
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🎶 Proceeds from the sale of Queen’s back catalogue to Sony
But even financial comfort hasn’t filled the void Freddie left.
“I lost my family, really, when Freddie died… I miss the fun, the humour, his warmth, his energy.”
🤝 A Relationship Beyond Labels
Freddie and Mary’s romantic relationship ended in the 1970s when he came out as gay, but their bond only grew stronger. He even wrote Queen’s hit “Love of My Life” for her.
💉 In his final months, she cared for him tenderly during his battle with illness.
📉 Band Fallout
Despite their shared history, Mary says her relationship with Queen’s surviving members soured after Freddie’s death.
“I don’t think the remaining members of Queen have ever reconciled themselves to it… I never hear from them.”
🏁 The End of an Era
At 74, Mary Austin has finally begun to step away from the legacy she helped protect for over three decades.
🗝️ As Garden Lodge waits for its next owner, one thing remains clear: Freddie Mercury’s home may soon belong to someone else, but his spirit still lives in every note, lyric, and memory.