Freddie Mercury’s Sister Spends £3million on Singer’s Memorabilia Amid Auction Battle with Former Partner Mary Austin
Freddie Mercury’s sister, Kashmira Bulsara, has reportedly spent a staggering £3million to acquire several personal belongings of the late singer, after his former partner, Mary Austin, put them up for auction. According to a report in the Daily Mail, Kashmira, 73, was determined to keep the items in the family and remained anonymous during the bidding process, which was conducted through her personal assistant.
The Daily Mail reports that Kashmira and her son, Jamal Zook, took part in the bidding, setting aside a huge budget to secure the items. A source close to the family told the publication: "Kashmira was angry and upset to see so many of her beloved brother’s possessions become available for anyone to buy." The source added that Kashmira appreciated how adored Freddie was across the world but was saddened to think of some of his sentimental belongings not being with his loved ones.
Among the items purchased by Kashmira was a £139,700 waistcoat adorned with pictures of Freddie’s six cats, which he wore in the music video for "These Are The Days Of Our Lives," just six months before his death. She also bought a Wurlitzer Model 850 jukebox for £406,400 and eight pages of draft lyrics to the 1974 Queen hit track "Killer Queen" for £279,400. The most expensive item purchased was a military jacket made for Freddie’s 39th birthday, which cost a staggering £457,200.
The items were part of a collection of Freddie’s personal belongings that had remained largely untouched for over 30 years after his death. The collection, which included over 1,400 items, was put up for auction by Mary Austin, who had inherited the items after Freddie’s death from AIDS-related pneumonia in 1991. Mary, 74, had previously sold over 1,400 of Freddie’s belongings for a total of £12,172,290 at an auction run by Sotheby’s in September 2023.
According to the Daily Mail, Kashmira’s purchase of the items was motivated by a desire to keep them in the family. A source close to the family told the publication: "They had set aside a huge budget so were actually very happy with the final figure laid out, despite paying well over the estimated price for each one." The source added that Kashmira was determined to keep the items safe and ensure that they remained in the family’s possession.
The Daily Mail also reports that Mary Austin had donated some of the proceeds from the sale of Freddie’s belongings to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, a charity set up in Freddie’s honour by his bandmates and manager Jim Beach, as well as the Elton John Aids Foundation. Mary had explained that she had decided to sell the belongings because "the time had come" for her to take the difficult decision to close the chapter in her life and put her affairs in order.
Freddie Mercury’s relationship with Mary Austin was a long and complex one. The two met in 1970 when Freddie was a young aspiring musician who had moved to London from his birth country, Zanzibar. The former couple moved in together and got engaged in 1973, but three years later, Freddie came out to Mary and told her he was gay. Despite this, Mary and Freddie remained the closest of friends throughout his life.
In a rare interview, Mary recalled: "He said, ‘I think I am bisexual.’ I told him: ‘I think you’re gay.’ And nothing else was said. We just hugged." Mary and Freddie would never legally marry, but he called her his "wife" even long after he’d confessed his true sexuality, which ended their romance.
The sale of Freddie’s belongings has generated significant interest, with over 140,000 people visiting a London exhibition to see the collection before the auctions. The top item sold was Freddie’s beloved Yamaha Baby Grand piano, which he bought in 1975 and used to compose hits such as "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Don’t Stop Me Now," selling for a record £1.7 million.
Representatives for Kashmira declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail, while Mary’s representatives have also been contacted. The Daily Mail has been unable to comment on the matter from either side.
The Daily Mail reports that Kashmira’s purchase of the items has ensured that they will remain in the family’s possession, and it is understood that she intends to keep them safe and preserve them for future generations.
