TALK OF THE TOWN: V&A is just not ready for Freddie as it turns down Queen frontman’s fashion collection
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury was always ready to make a show of himself.
But showing off her amazing wardrobe is proving to be a much more challenging endeavor.
Peter Freestone, the flamboyant rocker’s long-time personal assistant and confidant, has revealed that he has offered 1,000 items from Freddie’s collection to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for display.
But instead of immediately accepting the offer, the curators said they would not be able to stage an exhibition until at least 2030.
‘We wanted to show them at the V&A,’ says Freestone, who lived at Garden Lodge in Kensington (just a mile and a half from the museum) for 11 years until the star’s death in 1991, aged 45. ‘They were very interested, but they said, ‘How about 2030?’ they said. ‘
His treasure trove includes Freddie’s signature military jackets, Adidas Hercules sneakers, the jacket he wore in the Bohemian Rhapsody video and the cross-dressing outfit from I Want To Break Free.
The V&A’s stagnation contrasts with Freddie’s response to Under Pressure collaborator David Bowie’s offer to showcase his fashions, moving from initial approach to retrospective in just over two years.
This exhibition opened in 2013 and was eventually seen by more than two million fans.
While discussions with the V&A are ongoing, Freddie’s collection will first be exhibited in Budapest, Hungary next year as part of an immersive experience called The World of Freddie.
Because as every Queen fan knows, the show must go on!
Peter Freestone, Freddie Mercury’s (pictured) long-time personal assistant and confidant, revealed that he had offered the Victoria & Albert Museum in London 1,000 items from Freddie’s collection to display, but curators told him they could not stage an exhibition until at least 2030.
Instead, the collection will be exhibited in Hungary as part of an immersive experience called The World of Freddie.
Waltz of the West
He showed off his moves in the stage musical My Fair Lady alongside Carly Bawden and now Dominic West wants to pull a prank on Strictly.
‘I’ve always wanted to do the show,’ he told me at the Fayre of St James singing concert organized by the Queen’s nephew Ben Elliot.
Although West, 56, admits he might be ‘a little bit in the tooth’ to take charge at the moment.
‘They never asked me and now I can’t get out of bed. “It is quite difficult.”
He showed off his moves in the My Fair Lady stage musical with Carly Bawden (left) and now Dominic West (pictured) is dreaming of pulling a prank on Strictly
Daughter of Spice Girl Mel B, Phoenix Brown is a self-proclaimed nepo babe who makes the most of her mom’s connections.
Not only did Sporty Spice DJ with Mel C at a Superdry event last week, but she also had another Spicy kid in her sights.
She told me at the Beauty Awards that she’d love to work with Posh Spice’s son Cruz Beckham and was ‘waiting’ for his music career to take off.
Maybe it just needs two-in-one collaboration!
Mel B and Phoenix Brown at the Beauty Awards in London earlier this month
Cora fell in love with a Burberry bum
I hear Vivienne Westwood’s granddaughter, Cora Corre, has found love with a West London rapper called Slew.
A former Burberry model, Slew’s works blend rap, grime and drill genres to discuss topics such as a ‘thieving’ government.
Maybe this young rapper thinks he’s a bit punk? I imagine Vivienne, the late queen of anarchy, would approve.
Cora previously dated suave young pop star Harry Styles.
Vivienne Westwood’s granddaughter Cora Corre (left) found love with a West London rapper called Slew (right)
I hear that rocker Nick Cave, former heroin addict and surprise guest at the King’s coronation, will be performing at Michael Gove’s local church, St Bartholomew The Great, in the City of London before Christmas.
Nick Cave (pictured) was a surprise guest at the King’s coronation in May 2023
But there’s a problem: tickets cost £450 each!
Miley and A Lost Night
Stars who flocked to the Chiltern Firehouse before the restaurant in London’s Marylebone burned down on Valentine’s Day are now flocking to a new club called Lost.
Singers Miley Cyrus, 33, and Lily Allen were spotted at the Leicester Square nightclub.
Singers Miley Cyrus (pictured) and Lily Allen spotted at Leicester Square nightclub
And I hear Lily, 40, will host an “intimate private party” there soon.
Celebrities are being impressed by Lost’s ‘no photos’ policy and guests are being asked to put stickers on their phone lenses.
No pop please!
Mottled
Richard E. Grant speaks Famous Traitors with Stars Celia Imrie at Claridges at the unveiling of a Christmas tree.
Richard E. Grant was spotted discussing Celebrity Traitors with star Celia Imrie at a Christmas tree unveiling in Claridges.
Singer Ed Sheeran walks in Cake with DJ Fred Again at The Blue Stoops pub, Notting Hill.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Pierce Brosnan rubs his shoulders cool Marylebone pub The Hart.
28 Years Later actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson looks gloomy The Pelican is in Notting Hill.
Mick Hucknall looks at turmeric Filming at Whole Foods, Kensington.
