Next to a big heart of pink roses Elton John wrote this note: “Thank you for being my friend. I will always love you.” Sent the floral wreath to London crematorium in which he worked Freddie Mercury's private funeral he November 27, 1991. One by one, they were fulfilled the last wishes of the Queen leader. “I know exactly where do I want you to put me. But Nobody has to know because I don't want to be dug up.“he told Mary Austin.
After years of speculation, Freddie Mercury issued a brave statement in which confirmed that he had the AIDS virus: “…the time has come for my friends and fans from all over the world know the truth and I hope that Everyone join me, my doctors and everyone in the world in the fight against this terrible disease.”
Freddie passed away only 24 hours later – he November 24, 1991 – at his Garden Lodge home in Kensington. He was 45 years old. lThe news shocked the entire world.
WECB Classic
WECB Classic
A tight circle of close friends He lived with him during his last days. and it charged with fulfilling his final wishes.
Freddie wanted a small private funeral and a ceremony in language Avestan (historical Iranian language) with traditional Zoroastrian rites, according to the customs of their ancestors. It was officiated by two parsi priests on November 27, 1991 at West London Crematorium, situated in Kensal Green Cemetery.
They attended only 35 people. Family and friends. His parents, Bomi & Jer Bulsara, his sister Kashmira, his Queen colleagues, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon, as well as Mary Austin, Jim Hutton (partner), Peter Freestone (personal assistant), or his close friends Dave Clark, Elton John and Anita Dobson….
Mary sent her Dear Freddie a beautiful wreath of yellow roses (Mercury's favorites) with this message: “To me dearest, with my deepest love. Your always faithful”; Jim Hutton (Freddie's partner) chose a beautiful floral swan and Elton John chose a large heart of pink roses with the message: “Thank you for being my friend. I will always love you.”
The dozens of wreaths and flowers lined up at the entrance to the crematorium They were transported in five hearses. They were later distributed through London hospital wards with AIDS patients.
Freddie's coffin – with a single red rose on top – was moved to the chapel while Aretha Franklin's voice sounded singing 'Precious Lord take my hand', followed by 'You've got a friend'. The ceremony, which lasted 25 minutes, ended with Mercury's favorite aria, 'D'amour sull 'ali rose' by Giuseppe Verdi and performed by Montserrat Cabellé.
After the cremation, Mary took his ashes and kept the urn in Freddie's old bedroom. He never entered that room as it was a space permeated with too many memories. But, after two yearsAustin He secretly took the urn and took Freddie to his final resting place..
In an interview for the Daily Mail, the heiress to the Mercury fortune said: “One morning I sneaked out of the house with the urn. It had to be like a normal day for the staff I wouldn't suspect anything – because the employees they are gossips. They can't help it. But no one will ever know where he is buried because that was his wish. The fans can be deeply obsessive – I wanted it to remain a secret and that's how it will be.”
Mary Austin explained exactly when Freddie Mercury conveyed his last wishes to her: “Suddenly, one day after Sunday lunchadvertisement, 'I know exactly where I want you to put me. But “No one has to know because I don’t want to be dug up.” Those were his exact words, and he concluded: “I just want to rest in peace.”
