Freddie Mercury’s crown and outfits among iconic belongings set to fetch millions at auction
FREDDIE Mercury’s crown sits atop a treasure trove of his possessions on show for the first time since his death in 1991.
More than 1,400 of the Queen frontman’s belongings will be on display for a month in a free exhibition from today.
They will then go under the hammer in a multi-million-pound auction.
Thousands of the rock star’s artworks, outfits and writings were left frozen in time in his mansion for more than 30 years.
But the contents of the home in Kensington, West London, were offered up for auction by his longtime confidante Mary Austin this year.
They include the bejewelled crown and cloak worn in his final stage appearance in 1986 that are expected to fetch as much as £80,000.
His white “FLASH” T-shirt from the 1981 world tour will sell alongside his red vinyl trousers for an estimated £20,000.
The gallery – titled A World Of His Own – will also show off his treasured Yamaha G2 Baby Grand Piano, expected to sell for up to £3million.
Freddie used it to compose 1975 masterpiece Bohemian Rhapsody.
Draft lyrics for the rock anthem scribbled on a piece of paper could also fetch more than £1million.
The exhibition at Sotheby’s in central London will close on September 5 ahead of the sale.
Sotheby’s expert David Macdonald said: “Never before have we had the privilege of coming so close to illuminating his personal world.”