London’s Victoria and Albert Museum will open Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things, a free exhibition dedicated to the Queen frontman’s unmistakable stage style. The project marks what would have been the musician’s 80th birthday on 5 September 2026.

The exhibition will feature eight iconic Mercury looks spanning different stages of his career — from Queen’s earliest performances in the 1970s to the band’s final tour. Seven of them have been loaned to the museum by Mary Austin, the artist’s former fiancée and close friend, who also helped develop the exhibition.

Among the exhibits is the black-and-white ensemble Mercury wore at one of Queen’s earliest concerts at Imperial College. The musician is pictured in the same outfit on the cover of the band’s self-titled debut album, released in 1973.

Visitors will also see the Mercury Wing jumpsuit created by designer Wendy de Smet. Mercury wore it during the A Night at the Opera tour in 1975 and 1976 and appeared in it in the music video for Bohemian Rhapsody.

A special place in the exhibition will be reserved for the crown and cloak designed by Diana Moseley. Mercury wore the look during the Magic Tour, including Queen’s final concert at Knebworth in 1986. The exhibition will also feature a costume from the Made in Heaven music video, as well as accessories and garments from the artist’s personal wardrobe.

The exhibition route will comprise six thematic sections, each exploring a distinct period in Mercury’s creative career. Through sets, lighting and sound, stage designer Tom Piper will recreate the atmosphere of his performances and demonstrate how fashion helped the artist shape his instantly recognisable stage persona.

The exhibition’s title refers to a comment Mercury made in 1978 about his love of beautiful things. According to Mary Austin, costumes were never simply clothes to the musician — they were an essential part of his artistic vision, performances and self-expression.

Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things will be on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum from 24 October 2026 to 17 January 2027. Admission will be free.

Photo: Instagram @freddiemercuryclub, @freddiemercury

The late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, long believed to have died without children, actually had an illegitimate daughter. This revelation comes decades after the legendary musician’s death through a new biography titled «With Love, Freddie» by author Lesley-Ann Jones.

It turns out that in 1976, Mercury became the father of a baby girl. The child was born following an affair with the wife of one of his friends, according to the Daily Mail, citing the writer.

 

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According to the book, Freddie’s daughter is now 48 years old, lives in Europe, works in the medical field, has a family of her own, and is raising a daughter.

Only those closest to Mercury – including the singer himself – knew about the secret romance and the birth of the girl. He went to great lengths to keep this part of his life hidden from the public.

In the book, the musician’s daughter is referred to under the codename «B». She told the author that she always knew who her father was and maintained a warm relationship with him until his death.

 

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«Freddie Mercury was and remains my father. We had a very close and loving bond. He adored me and was deeply devoted to me», the biography states.

The author claims that before his death, Mercury gave his daughter 17 volumes of personal diaries, which she later shared with Lesley-Ann Jones for the book.

The biography is set to be released in September and is already being hailed as a potential bestseller.

Photo: Instagram @old_fashioned_girl_