Both Freddie and I were extremely shy. So when I used to see him on stage, it wasn’t like watching the real Freddie. To me, it was watching my brother acting the part.’

‘He was six when I was born, so I only had a year of him, yet I was always aware of my proud older brother protecting me.’ says Kashmira. ‘He didn’t always come home for the holidays – sometimes he’d stay with my dad’s sister in Bombay, or with my mum’s sister, and it was she who got him started on playing the piano and drawing. He was talented in all areas. It made me feel sick, of course. Even now, Mum and Dad have got all his school reports.’

‘He always used to take hours in front of the mirror, looking after his locks. He’d go out a lot, too, and stay out all night. My mum and he used to argue about it constantly. And she was always going on at him to make sure he got a degree, but he was determined to do what he wanted. There was quite a lot of door-slamming, but when Freddie made it, Mum was very proud!’

‘Every morning when I wake up, there’s a Queen song on the radio and people ask me if it makes me sad. My answer is No!

How can I remain sad if my brother wakes me up singing!’

‘He was my brother, but a megastar too. Simply speaking, I don’t know what it was like to have an ordinary brother because my own brother was so extraordinary.’

Kashmira Bulsara Cooke

November 2000