A startling revelation about Queen frontman Freddie Mercury is rocking the music world once again—this time, not for his voice, but for a secret that’s reportedly been kept hidden for nearly 50 years. A forthcoming biography claims that Mercury, known globally for his electrifying performances and enigmatic persona, quietly fathered a daughter in the mid-1970s at the height of his fame.
The claim is made in Love, Freddie, an upcoming book by acclaimed music journalist Lesley-Ann Jones. The biography opens with a handwritten letter from the now 48-year-old woman, identified only as “B,” who says she is the secret daughter of the legendary rocker. The letter describes a deeply loving relationship with Mercury that spanned the last 15 years of his life.
“Freddie Mercury was and is my father,” she writes. “He adored me and was devoted to me… He cherished me like a treasured possession.”
According to Jones, the child was conceived in 1976 during a period when Mercury was on tour, in a brief but consequential liaison with the wife of one of his close friends. Abortion, the author notes, was never an option for the mother, a devout Roman Catholic. Instead, a quiet arrangement was made: the child would be raised by her mother and stepfather, while Mercury remained intimately involved, even maintaining rooms in both homes.
While Mercury’s flamboyant public image painted him as a rock icon of mystery and charisma, those closest to him apparently knew about the child. His longtime confidante Mary Austin, along with his parents and sister, reportedly kept the secret for decades. The identity of the child’s mother, who has since passed away, remains undisclosed.
Jones says she was initially skeptical of the claim, but after reviewing 17 private journals allegedly given by Mercury to his daughter before his death in 1991, she became convinced. She describes “B” as deeply private, uninterested in fame, money, or public recognition. The biography states that Mercury did not include her in his official will but made private legal arrangements to provide for her—a claim Jones says helps validate the story.
“She doesn’t want attention. She has never asked for money. She was already left extremely wealthy by both her stepfather and Freddie,” Jones explained.
The biography portrays Mercury as a devoted, hands-on father who called his daughter daily while on tour. It’s a radically different image than the one most fans have come to know, and one Jones believes is essential to understanding the man behind the music.
Outside the immediate family, the secret was guarded so closely that even members of Mercury’s household staff were unaware. The Queen frontman, best known for his dramatic flair and boundary-pushing performances, also carried with him a strong instinct for privacy—a trait his daughter says she inherited.
In another letter included in the book, she explains her reasons for staying anonymous: “We cherish our peaceful and anonymous life. Nobody needs to know who I am.”
Set for release on September 5, Love, Freddie promises to provide not only an intimate portrait of one of rock’s most captivating figures but also a new, deeply personal chapter that has remained hidden from public view—until now.
