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<\/p>\nFREDDIE Mercury was one of the most iconic singers the world has ever seen.<\/p>\n
Sadly his life was cut far to early, when he died aged just 45-years-old.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After many years of touring the world and producing hit after hit, Freddie Mercury\u00a0was sadly diagnosed with Aids.<\/span><\/p>\n According to his partner Jim Hutton, he received the devastating news shortly after Easter 1987.<\/p>\n However, he kept this as a private matter and denied the diagnosis as rumours continued.<\/p>\n The Queen singer's sexuality was often a topic of discussion as he had both female and male partners, with friends commenting he was openly gay, but he remained silent on the matter.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Sadly on November 23, 1991, a statement was made on Freddie's behalf which confirmed he was ill, which said: "Following enormous conjecture in the press, I wish to confirm that I have been tested HIV positive and have AIDS.<\/p>\n "I felt it correct to keep this information private in order to protect the privacy of those around me.<\/p>\n "However, the time has now come for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth, and I hope everyone will join with me, my doctors and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease."<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Just over 24 hours after revealing the news, the music legend died at the age of 45 on November 24, 1991.<\/p>\n His cause of death was recorded as bronchial pneumonia resulting from Aids.<\/p>\n In 2017, Queen guitarist Brian May revealed the devastating physical effect Aids had on his late bandmate Freddie – admitting it even cost the star his foot.<\/p>\n Speaking to Times Magazine, he said of his friend's illness: "The problem was actually his foot – and, tragically there was very little left of it."<\/p>\n Brian added: "Once, he showed it to us at dinner. And he said: 'Oh Brian, I'm sorry I've upset you by showing you that'. And I said, 'I'm not upset, Freddie, except to realise that you have to put up with so much terrible pain'."<\/p>\n He went on to reveal his sadness as Freddie passed away just months before a potentially life-saving "cocktail of drugs" was discovered.<\/p>\n Prescriptions of AZT have gone on to help manage the condition, giving sufferers much longer to live.<\/p>\n "He missed it by just a few months," Brian said. "If it had been just a bit later he would still be with us, I'm sure. But you can't go there because therein lies madness".<\/p>\n After Freddie was diagnosed as having Aids in 1987, the band stopped touring.<\/span><\/p>\n This made their concert at Knebworth on August 9, 1986, the last time the four original members of Queen performed on stage together.<\/span><\/p>\n The band arrived to the show by helicopter, with Freddie famously dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and aviator sunglasses, before making their way on stage.<\/p>\n Queen's keyboard player Spike Edney told Rolling Stone\u00a0<\/em>that the helicopter journey was such a highlight for the band that it caused them to miss the backstage after party.<\/p>\n "The end of tour party was a huge fairground filled with topless models.<\/p>\n "[Queen] was so pleased and loved the helicopter ride in so much, that as soon as the gig was over, they took the helicopter ride out."<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Freddie made his final public appearance when he joined the rest of Queen on stage to collect the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.<\/p>\n Freddie and Mary Austin dated for several years before he proposed in 1973.<\/p>\n The singer even dedicated the Queen hit Love Of My Life to her.<\/p>\n The pair eventually split up after she helped him to accept that he was gay, but they remained best friends until he died.<\/p>\n After they called off their engagement, Mary moved into a nearby flat and the pair remained incredibly close with her working for his management company.<\/p>\n Opening up about their relationship, Freddie once said: "All my lovers asked me why they couldn\u2019t replace Mary, but it\u2019s simply impossible.<\/p>\n "The only friend I\u2019ve got is Mary, and I don\u2019t want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe in each other. That\u2019s enough for me. I couldn\u2019t fall in love with a man the same way as I have with Mary.\u201d<\/p>\n When Freddie died, he left Mary half of his \u00a375million estate.<\/p>\n She continues to live in the his mansion in Knightsbridge, London, that she inherited in the singer's will.<\/p>\n Mary lives as a quiet life there, where fans still make regular pilgrimages.<\/p>\n The interior of the lavishly decorated 28-room home remains unchanged since Freddie\u2019s days.<\/p>\n Mary did the interior design for him, choosing the Louis XV furniture he adored so much.<\/p>\n After her relationship with Freddie, Mary had two children with her first husband, Piers Cameron.<\/p>\n They were married from 1990 to 1993, and during their time welcomed Richard and Jamie – with Freddie being their godfather.<\/p>\n After this Mary married husband number two\u00a0Nicholas Holford from 1998 to 2000.<\/p>\nRead more on Freddie Mercury<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/newspress-collage-23329036-1691074915099.jpg\")
<\/picture>IT WILL ROCK YOU <\/span><\/p>\nInside Freddie Mercury’s car collection with stunning \u00a374k Rolls-Royce<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/dk-comp-page18-freddie-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>QUEEN CROWN JEWELS <\/span><\/p>\nFreddie Mercury’s iconic belongings set to fetch millions at auction<\/h3>\n
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What was Freddie Mercury's last performance?<\/h2>\n
Was Freddie Mercury engaged to Mary Austin?<\/h2>\n