A vast collection of personal items belonging to the late Freddie Mercury, legendary frontman of the British rock band Queen, is set to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s in London on 6 September 2023. The items have been kept at Garden Lodge, Mercury’s home in Kensington, west London, for over three decades, and are now being sold by Mary Austin, whom Mercury called his closest friend.
The collection comprises around 1,500 items, ranging from stage costumes and handwritten lyrics to personal items such as a comb, phone, and embroidered napkins. It is expected to raise over £6 million, with proceeds being donated to charity.
The jewel in the crown of the collection is the iconic crown and robe designed by Diana Mosley that Mercury wore during his final tour with Queen in 1986. The ensemble is expected to sell for between £60,000-80,000. Additionally, the auction will feature nine pages of handwritten “We Are The Champions” lyrics, which are expected to fetch between £200,000-300,000, and “Killer Queen” lyrics, estimated at around £50,000-70,000.
Speaking to BBC News, Mary Austin said that she had decided to sell everything except for a few personal gifts and photographs of the pair because she needed to “put her affairs in order”. The 72-year-old added that the time had come for her to take the difficult decision to close this very special chapter in her life.
Before the auction, the collection will be exhibited at Sotheby’s galleries in New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and London, allowing fans and collectors from around the world to view the items.
The auction is a tribute to Mercury’s “inimitable life, work and art,” according to Sotheby’s, and displays “a quality and diversity of works that are a testament not only to his passion, but his brilliant mind.” It is also a poignant reminder of the close friendship between Freddie Mercury and Mary Austin, who remained a constant presence in his life until his death in 1991.