ENTERTAINMENT
Freddie Mercury’s ‘exquisite clutter’ to be auctioned
Six huge auctions offer the ‘ultimate backstage pass’ into the Queen singer’s world
Mary Austin, top left, has lived in Freddie Mercury’s Kensington mansion since his death in 1991
Mary Austin, top left, has lived in Freddie Mercury’s Kensington mansion since his death in 1991
Constance Kampfner
Wednesday April 26 2023, 11.45pm, The Times
He was a star who captivated audiences across the globe. But out of the spotlight Freddie Mercury spent his days scouring antique shops and auction houses for treasures to display at his home.

For 30 years, Garden Lodge in Kensington, west London, has remained almost entirely as the Queen singer left it. Now its contents will go on show to the public in a month-long exhibition at Sotheby’s.

Opening on August 4 and closing on what would have been Mercury’s 77th birthday on September 5, the exhibition will take over the auction house’s entire 16,000sq ft gallery. It will culminate in six dedicated sales, each one devoted to a different aspect of Mercury’s life.