Freddie Mercury's £20M Inheritance: Mary Austin Reveals Unexpected Struggles

Mary Austin, the woman often described as Freddie Mercury's best friend and former fiancée, has recently spoken out about the significant inheritance he left her, revealing that managing the vast sum has been "really difficult" over the years. The Queen frontman, upon his death, bequeathed half of his estimated £20m to £30m estate, along with future royalties, to Austin. Their relationship began in the 1970s, leading to an engagement.

However, they later separated when Mercury revealed he was gay. Despite the romantic split, their bond remained exceptionally strong. Austin continued to be a pivotal figure in Mercury's life, serving as his personal assistant and remaining close until his passing at age 45 in 1991 from bronchial pneumonia related to his AIDS diagnosis.

One of the most notable aspects of the inheritance was Garden Lodge, Mercury's Kensington home, which he willed to Austin. She initially hesitated to accept it, recalling Mercury's words,

If everything had gone to plan you would have been my wife, and this would have been rightly yours.

Her move into Garden Lodge subsequently led to the departure of Mercury's partner, Jim Hutton, who had been left £500,000 and given three months to vacate.

Austin clarified that this situation was managed by the will's executors, not her directly. When asked if Mercury's immense generosity stemmed from love or perhaps an apology, Austin offered a cryptic response: "I don't know.

There's more on that list than you realise, I'm afraid.

Could be [guilt], but I think not. If you put your thinking cap on, you'll get there.” Her reflections shed light on the complexities of a unique relationship and the unexpected burdens that can accompany a life-changing legacy.

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