Freddie Mercury’s funeral covered by BBC News in 1991
While the world mourned a larger than life superstar, a small group of family and friends attended a very special ceremony that was a million miles away from Freddie’s public persona. Before he died, the star specified that he wanted traditional Zoroastrian rites, according to the customs of his family and ancestors. The entire ceremony was conducted in the historical language Avestan, which originated in the Persian Empire and is two and a half thousand years old. The ceremony took place at West London Crematorium and the only words in English were to ask the mourners to stand and sit. SCROLL DOWN TO HEAR MARY TALK ABOUT HER LOVE FOR FREDDIE
The funeral was an extremely small and private affair, with less than 40 people invited. The guests included the star’s bandmates and their wives, as well as Elton John, Mary Austin and Freddie’s partner Jim Hutton. In the news footage, Brian May can be seen hugging Freddie’s long-term live-in PA and friend Peter Freestone.
A single red rose was placed on top of the coffin, which was…
