Freddie Mercury's Stage Costumes Go on Free Display at the V&A

The Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington has launched a free self-guided trail to celebrate what would have been Freddie Mercury's 80th birthday. Titled Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things — after a remark Mercury made in 1978 — the trail features eight looks worn by the Queen frontman, spread across six stops in the museum. Each stop places the costumes within a theatrical installation using set dressing, audio and lighting to bring them to life.

The trail was created with the help of Mary Austin, Mercury's closest friend and former fiancée, who loaned seven of the looks to the museum. It traces his career from early Queen performances at university venues through to his final years as a solo artist. Among the highlights are a monochrome ensemble worn at an early Queen gig at Imperial College, the 'Mercury Wing' catsuit associated with the Night at the Opera tour and the Bohemian Rhapsody music video, and the opulent crown and cloak worn during the Magic tour and at Queen's final appearance with Mercury at Knebworth in 1986. Visitors can also view accessories from his personal collection.

In her upcoming book A Life in Lyrics, Austin writes that Mercury "understood early on that he wasn't just wearing clothes; he was providing an image to match the scale of the space and the vastness of the crowd." Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things runs until 17 January and is free to visit.