Mary Austin recounts life with Freddie Mercury

musicSep 1, 20261538

Mary Austin told the Guardian about her decades-long bond with Freddie Mercury, opening up about private mementos, money and the relationship they kept after he came out. In 2022 she finally opened one of four silver trunks she had packed in the mid-1980s; the case held Mercury’s original handwritten lyrics for songs including Don’t Stop Me Now, Killer Queen, We Are the Champions and Bohemian Rhapsody. Austin has lived in Mercury’s house for more than 30 years and owns half of his estate, which she says has grown from an estimated £20, 30 million to around £150 million; she denies reports that her share rose to 75% after his parents died. Fans have accused her of hoarding his belongings and of withholding basic facts such as the location of his ashes, claims the article recounts alongside evidence of the trust Mercury placed in her. Austin is publishing Freddie Mercury: A Life in Lyrics, a book that reproduces those original lyric sheets with her observations. The piece traces their unlikely chemistry from their 1970 meeting in Kensington Market through a lifelong, complicated friendship in which Austin remained a private, steady presence while Mercury pursued fame and relationships with men. Austin says she has guarded Mercury’s privacy fiercely but chose now to speak more openly as the singer’s 80th birthday week approaches.

Matthew Hodson

@matthewhodson.bsky.social

They’d been living together for four years when Freddie Mercury said he had something to tell her. He said, “I think I’m bisexual.” I said, “No, Freddie, I think you’re gay.” He didn’t argue. Mary Austin lifts the lid on her relationship with Freddie Mercury.

91h ago

Nicola Miller

@nicmiller.bsky.social

This is an incredibly sad interview. Bravo, Simon Hattenstone. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/s...

103h ago

Jim Young

@oyoguhito.bsky.social

My life with Freddie Mercury — by the best friend he nearly married www.thetimes.com/article/22e4...

6Yesterday

PeteMin70

@p70.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/music/2026/s... An extraordinary interview. Trust me on this, I've read most of them. The most revealing & fascinating article about Mary & Freddie. Thank you, @shattenstone.bsky.social.

63h ago

Tony McCabe1

Absolutely superb. You literally couldn't make that whole story up.

J Kelly1

Hattenstone really has the knack of drawing fascinating interviews out of people. Mind you, in this instance he had plenty to work with as that’s a hell of a story.

mmch.bsky.social1

Got a bit of dust in my eye now. Astonishing and very moving story. Emotion recollected in tranquility.

Karen J Watson 🇨🇦

@watsonkaren.bsky.social

Beautiful and sad - The extraordinary untold story of Freddie Mercury: Mary Austin on her best friend – and love of her life www.theguardian.com/music/2026/s...

13h ago

Lesley

@basculerascule.bsky.social

Mary Austin has been much-maligned over the years, rather unfairly I think. Interesting and honest interview, and I'm glad she has finally spoken.

22h ago

JoelTaylorhack

@joeltaylorhack.bsky.social

Heard the interview with Mary Austin on BBC Today and it was quite moving And this Guardian piece with her is really very powerful Being Freddie Mercury's closest friend is quite a responsibility www.theguardian.com/music/2026/s...

12h ago

Shirls

@holmfirthartist.bsky.social

@shattenstone.bsky.social The Mary Austin interview is really something. The gear shift to family therapist when you bring her son into the conversation is amazing - it shows how two family members can have completely different memories and interpretations of the same events.

12h ago

Gav Maclean

@gavmaclean.bsky.social

Always been a big Queen fan and obviously had to read this...

14h ago

Bits

@bitshammer.bsky.social

He referred to Mary Austin as his common law wife and soul mate but also had a thing for men so likely

1Yesterday

Rebecca

@bluebec.bsky.social

The constant erasure of Freddy Mercury's bisexuality is incredibly frustrating. Bisexual men exist and they're not gay, they're actually bisexual

1h ago

Pete Quily

@pqpolitics.bsky.social

Trust your gut. 1975, Bohemian Rhapsody was released. Singles were usually three minutes long. This was a six-minute operetta with a nonsense story, and random references to Galileo, Figaro and Scaramouche. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/s...

1h ago

CoraBGodsey

@doehill.bsky.social

I don't think I've ever read another interview with a celebrity adjacent person like this one with Mary Austin. She is the antithesis of someone clinging to another's legacy for her own personal gain. And she's so freaking honest.

4h ago

LVZ RSS Feed (BOT)

@lvz-rssfeed.bsky.social

Freddie Mercury feiert 80. Geburtstag: Mary Austin erzählt von Queen-Sänger https://lvz.de

6h ago

爪𝖆𝖌𝖚𝖘 丂𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖘ö𝖎𝖉 BSc, BA 🎸♾️🦶

@magus-smillsoid.bsky.social

Lucky you. I used to go to the fan club conventions. Met Mary Austin.

21h ago

1 source

theguardian.comThe extraordinary untold story of Freddie Mercury: Mary Austin on her best friend – and love of her life

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Mary Austin recounts life with Freddie Mercury

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