Bohemian Rhapsody: WATCH Mary Austin talk about Freddie with so much LOVE in rare video

He called her “love of my life.” Even after Freddie embraced his sexuality and lived as a gay man, he remained devoted to Mary, leaving her his mansion and major part of his fortune. A famously private person, she has rarely spoken in public, but an extraordinary interview reveals her intense love for him, the sweet way they met and her incredible dignity and happiness when she had to let him go. It is a beautiful and inspiring story of a love that defied limits. As Freddie said: “We believed in each other. So f*** everybody else.”

The pair met when Mary worked a the Biba boutique but she actually dated his bandmate first.

Brian May revealed: “Part of the attraction of Biba was that the girls were so beautiful… We used to go in there to enjoy the scenery. I know Freddie did. I met Mary at a concert at Imperial college and got chatting. We went out a few times. It never got beyond a peck on the cheek. But Freddie started to talk to me about her and it became obvious Freddie wanted to go out with her.”

Mary then picked up the story: “He would come in. Occasionally he was brave enough to come on his own but most times he would come with Roger or somebody and he would smile or say ‘hello’ in passing. This went on for five or six months and finally he asked if I wanted to go out on a date. Five months later we were living together and we continued that for six years, I think.”

Brian May said: “It was a very emotional attachment for both of them immediately. He’d had relationships with girls but I don’t think his heart was ever in it. It worked because Freddie underneath was very shy and she was as well. They were a good match.”

Freddie described the situation perfectly: “To me, it was a marriage. She was my common-law wife. We carry on now as if we were married. Marriage is a term for other people. We believed in each other. So f*** everybody else.”

Mary revealed Freddie had not expected her to accept the revelation he was gay, but her description of what happened is intensely moving: “I knew this man wasn’t at one with himself over something. He was feeling bad about something, he wasn’t comfortable, avoiding situations. This wasn’t the Freddie I had first met.”

Mary said: “I think if I were to be really honest I realised when he first joined John Reid Enterprises why the relationship had changed. I didn’t know who he was with but I had a good idea…

“It was a relief to hear it from him. To have surmised that was the problem for the last two year we were together, too know that I had guessed right. It was a relief. A huge burden had been lifted and I enjoyed that he could be honest and frank with me. Once that had been discussed he was a different person, he was like the person I had known in the early years. He was more at one with himself, more relaxed, more happy.”

“I don’t think he ever thought I would be supportive or him becoming gay but I was because it was part of himself. It was more than nice to see Freddie at one with himself, it was wonderful. It was such happy person You couldn’t deny Freddie the right to be one with himself.

“I see it as a love that you accept and somehow understand because you want the person inside to grow and you are fascinated to see this person within totally at ease. There’s a great feeling, almost euphoric that you are witnessing the development.

“He gave so much so how could you not give?”