Freddie Mercury’s ‘secret’ daughter Bibi has tragically passed away at the age of 48 following a battle with a rare spinal cancer. Her death was confirmed by her husband, Thomas, who shared that she died peacefully after a long struggle with chordoma, leaving behind two young sons, aged nine and seven. The family resided in France.
Thomas’s statement to the Daily Mail poignantly noted, “B is now with her beloved and loving father in the world of thoughts. Her ashes were scattered to the wind over the Alps.” The revelation of Bibi’s existence was made public by author Lesley-Ann Jones in her book Love, Freddie, where she was previously known only as ‘B’.
Jones expressed her devastation at the loss of Bibi, who had become a close friend. “I am devastated by the loss of this woman who became my close friend, who had come to me with a selfless aim: to brush aside all those who have had free rein with Freddie’s story for 32 years, to challenge their lies and their rewriting of his life, and to deliver the truth,” she stated.
The Revelation and Its Impact
In May 2025, Bibi revealed that she had taken a DNA test to confirm her paternity, a revelation that came 34 years after the legendary Queen frontman’s death. It was alleged that Mercury fathered a child following a brief encounter with a friend’s wife in 1976. Mercury himself passed away in 1991 at the age of 45 due to complications related to AIDS.
The book, released in September 2025, was reportedly based on 17 volumes of journals that Mercury had given to Bibi in 1991, shortly before his death. In a heartfelt message penned in August, Bibi shared her struggles with the public persona of her father. “I didn’t want to share my Dad with the whole world. After his death, I had to learn to live with the attacks against him, the misrepresentations of him, and with the feeling that my Dad now belonged to everyone,” she wrote.
A Life Marked by Resilience
According to Lesley-Ann Jones, Bibi’s battle with cancer began when she was “very young,” prompting her family to move frequently in search of the best treatment. After a period of remission, the cancer returned, leading Bibi to contact Jones in 2021 to tell her story. “We worked together for four years to get the book written and published – on borrowed time,” Jones recounted.
Despite her illness, Bibi embarked on a memorable journey with her family to South America, fulfilling her dream of visiting the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu. Upon returning, she immediately began a rigorous treatment regimen, balancing hospital stays with precious time at home with her family. The book was published on September 5th, a testament to her determination and strength.
Controversy and Denial
Not everyone embraced Bibi’s claims. Mary Austin, Mercury’s close friend and former fiancée, denied any knowledge of a secret child. “The truth is that I am simply not the guardian of such a secret. I’ve never known of any child, or of any diaries,” she stated. Similarly, Anita Dobson, wife of Mercury’s bandmate Brian May, expressed skepticism. “Why wait this long? Brian thinks it’s a load of rubbish,” she told The Telegraph.
In response to demands for public DNA evidence, author Jones assured skeptics via social media that all necessary verifications had been obtained, but such details remained private. “To those ‘demanding’ to see proof of a DNA test, otherwise they won’t believe it – please rest assured that the requisite verification was obtained, legal teams have been involved, but that such measures are private & not shared publicly,” she wrote.
Legacy and Reflection
The story of Bibi, as detailed in Love, Freddie, offers a unique glimpse into the life of a woman who lived in the shadow of a rock legend. A passage from the book captures the essence of her relationship with Mercury: “He adored me and was devoted to me. The circumstances of my birth may seem, by most people’s standards, unusual and even outrageous. That should come as no surprise. It never detracted from his commitment to love and look after me. He cherished me like a treasured possession.”
Bibi’s journey, marked by resilience and a quest for truth, leaves a poignant legacy. Her story challenges the narratives surrounding her father, offering a personal perspective that adds depth to the public image of Freddie Mercury.
