Bohemian Rhapsody: Mary Austin on HOW she hid Freddie's ashes 'It was so hard and SPOOKY'

He called her the “love of my life” and that bond continued even after the tragic end of his life in 1991. Freddie’s girlfriend and “common-law wife” is still the only person who knows where the Queen icon’s ashes lie. many years later, she revealed how she did it, how hard she found it and why it did not help her relationship with his friends and family. But, as always, Mary remained true to Freddie and put his wishes first.

Although the couple separated in the early 1970s, they remained in each other’s lives with both admitting they were “soul mates.”

Mary was one of the close group who cared for Freddie in his last days and she was the only one to whom he entrusted the most important task of all.

Mary recalled: “He suddenly announced one day after Sunday lunch: ‘I know exactly where I want you to put me. But nobody is to know because I don’t want anyone to dig me up.’’ Those were his exact word. ‘I just want to rest in peace.'” 

She carried out his wishes, but delayed as long as possible, struggling to let go and aware it had to be done in absolute secrecy.

Freddie’s funeral service took place on November 27, 1991, at West London Crematorium, where he is commemorated by a plinth under his birth name.

Mary said: “I was very neglectful over them. I left them in the Chapel of Rest for a while. I knew I had this responsibility, but I couldn’t bring myself to finally part with him.”

After inheriting his Kensington mansion, she kept the ashes in an urn in his bedroom for two years until she finally found the strength to carry out his wishes: “I had to do it alone as he asked, and keep it a secret. That was something that didn’t encourage his family to like me any more or any less than they did.

“I found it all a bit spooky. They were in a plastic bag inside the urn. Afterwards, I had to put everything back and bolt it together. I suddenly thought, ‘I think you’ve left just a bit to much for me to do, Freddie.'”

Mary invited Freddie’s parents, Jer and Bomi Bulsara, to say goodbye but did not tell them when she would hide his ashes or where.

On the day, she made up a cover story and went out alone to carry out her heartbreaking task: “I didn’t want anyone to suspect that I was doing anything other than what I would normally do. I said I was going for a facial. I had to be convincing. It was very hard to find the moment. 

“I just sneaked out of the house with the urn. It had to be like a normal day so the staff wouldn’t suspect anything, because staff gossip. They just cannot resist it. But nobody will ever know where he is buried because that was his wish.”