Freddie Mercury's 'secret daughter': I'm devastated by the doubt Mary has cast over my story

THE woman who claims to be Freddie Mercury's secret daughter said she is "devastated" after the star's lifelong pal cast doubts over her story.

- By Stephen Beech

Mary Austin, 74, has expressed her "total disbelief and denied knowing anything about the alleged love child - named only as "B' despite claims in a new book.

Journalist and broadcaster Lesley-Ann Jones's forthcoming publication, Love, Freddie, claims B was conceived "accidentally" in 1976 during a fling with the wife of a close pal of the Queen singer.

The book states that B is now 48 and works as a medical professional in Europe.

But Mary, who inherited much of Freddie's fortune following his death, said: "I was named as a party to a bronchial pneumonia caused by Aids in 1991.