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The mystery of Freddie Mercury’s final resting place has taken a dramatic turn – after a plaque dedicated to him in a London cemetery went missing.

The bronze plaque – signed by “M” which fans believe to be former girlfriend Mary Austin who was given his ashes – is no longer to be found in London’s Kensal Green cemetery.

Fans are speculating whether Mary may have taken the plaque back into her possession after the Mirror revealed its existence last month .

She has always vowed to take the secret of where Freddie’s remains are to her grave.

One said: “It’s just disappeared into complete thin air. No sooner had the mystery of Freddie’s ashes seemingly been solved than this adds a whole new chapter.

“It’s all very odd but just adds to the intrigue of where they ended up.”

The legendary Queen singer died of Aids in 1991 aged 45.

The Mirror found the plaque in the west London cemetery which read: “In Loving Memory of Farrokh Bulsara”, adding in French: “Pour Etre Toujours Pres De Toi Avec Tout Mon Amour”.

This translates to “Always To Be Close To You With All My Love” - and is marked “M”.

(Image: James Eisen)

Farrokh Bulsara was the star’s real name. He changed it after forming Queen in 1971.

According to the cemetery website, bronze plaques “can be provided for those whose cremated remains have been strewn in the Scattering Garden”.

But yesterday the plaque was dramatically missing. It’s understood it was removed last week.

Mary, who inherited his £10million home, Garden Lodge in Kensington, said recently she was sworn to secrecy about the ashes’ whereabouts.

She said: “I made a promise on his death bed that I would never reveal where his ashes were. I do know where they are but that’s all I have to say on it.”

Freddie was cremated at Kensal Green and many speculated that his ashes had been taken abroad.

Some thought they had been sent to his native Zanzibar, while others believed they were scattered at Lake Geneva in Switzerland, where he had a home.

Jim Hutton, another of the bisexual singer’s former lovers, said in 1994 that he thought they were buried at Mercury’s Kensington home.

“It’s become something of a riddle,” he said at the time, “but I’m pretty sure his final resting place is at the foot of the weeping cherry tree.”