Freddie died on this same weekend in November, 1991. By the Saturday evening, he was fading fast and would pass peacefully the following night. He always said he didn’t care how people remembered him “It’s up to them. When I’m dead, who cares? I don’t.” But he would not have wanted to be remembered bedbound, diminished and frail. By chance, his boyfriend caught him in his garden, just weeks before, and these beautiful images show Freddie one last time, dressed in his nicest clothes in the sunshine, smiling.
What makes it so wonderful is that Freddie chose the moment and it was captured forever.
Hutton recalled he was photographing some of the gorgeous flowers in the West Kensington mansion’s garden, while he thought Freddie was resting inside. Suddenly, the Queen star appeared, smartly dressed and groomed. Even then, conscious of how his appearance had been affected by his illness, he asked to be snapped at a small distance.
The pictures below are a precious and emotional reminder of the man’s great spirit as fans mourn on the anniversary of his loss. What he is wearing also sends a powerful message as does the faithful companion standing at his side.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE INTIMATE FINAL PICTURES OF FREDDIE MERCURY
Peter says: “Freddie at home alone with us would be sitting in a mismatched tracksuit on the sofa watching Countdown…
“There were many layers. Friends would come to lunch and a slightly different Freddie Mercury would appear. It was more real and playful than you would see with the fans outside the door but still different, slightly dialled up and switched on.
“He loved entertaining friends. He would put on a matching tracksuit…”
It is clear that the smart blue trousers and patterned floral shirt were chosen on purpose by Freddie. He wanted to look nice for the moment and for Jim. In doing so, he also left one last wonderful memory to the world.
The film Bohemian Rhapsody shows how Freddie created his beautiful West Kensington home, and also how much he doted on his darling cats.
The star had at least ten through his adult life and six were there with him at the end – Delilah, Goliath, Lily, Miko, Oscar and Romeo.
It may well be Oscar there in that last photograph.
It was fitting that Freddie spent his very last days in his beloved sanctuary with his dearest friends, feline and human, constantly by his side.