What Freddie Mercury Was Like The Last Time These Celebs Saw Him Alive

Publish date: 2024-03-24

Despite his relationship with Barbara Valentin, no other woman was as close to Freddie Mercury as the first love of his life, Mary Austin. According to Biography, the pair met in 1969 when Mercury was 24 and Austin was 19, and they remained close until the end of his life.

According to All That's Interesting, the couple got engaged on Christmas Day in 1973, as Mercury and Queen were a year into their first record deal and already had a hit in the U.K. Despite his rising stardom, Mercury never left Austin's side, even chasing after her when she tried to leave with a departing crowd of fans following one of their shows. However, Mercury and Austin never married, and, according to Austin, he would quickly change the subject anytime she tried to bring up the wedding.

Eventually, the two sat down and discussed their relationship, as Mercury admitted to himself and Austin he was gay. Even after ending the engagement, Mercury wanted Austin to remain close to him and bought her an apartment close to where he lived. His wishes came true, and Austin remained a fixture in his life.

When he was diagnosed with AIDS, Austin and Jim Hutton stood by his side. Austin remembered sitting by Mercury's bed for hours nursing him when he was asleep. The singer would awake with a smile and say, "Oh it's you old faithful." After his passing, Mercury left most of his estate to Austin, as well as his ashes to scatter.

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