Brian May has left fans emotional after his latest Instagram post, with the Queen guitarist paying tribute to his late bandmate Freddie Mercury. Sharing new photographs of the Bohemian Rhapsody singer with his arms raised high on a hotel balcony, Brian wished him a happy birthday the day before what would mark his 78th.

Freddie sadly died in November 1991 at the age of just 45, of complications from AIDS. Brian reflected on the “good days” they had shared together, writing in his latest social media post: “Happy Birthday dear Freddie. PLEASE SWIPE folks. Here’s Freddie in 3D, courtesy of my Stereo Realist camera, greeting the world from his balcony in the Munich Hilton, Germany. I’m thinking 1979… good days. Bri.”

Fans rushed to wish Brian their best, with one writing: “Thank you very very much for sharing this dear Bri. A big hug and have a great day.”

Someone else said: “Happy heavenly birthday to dear Freddie for 5th September. You’re such a sweet one Bri!”

A third fan commented: “Happy heavenly birthday Freddie. Thank you for the music where you live on.”

“Brian we love you, but it’s tomorrow!” another social media user chimed in.

In the last days of his life, Freddie lived with his close friend and personal assistant Peter ‘Phoebe’ Freestone, who acted as “one of his nurses” towards the end of his life.

Peter explained: “Freddie’s Garden Lodge generally had a quiet atmosphere. It was his home, so while he had quite a few wonderful parties for anything up to 200 people, it was a place he felt secure in and a place where he didn’t have to guard anything he said or did.

"He could get up in the morning and put on a mismatching tracksuit, he could be silent if he wanted to, or come downstairs from his bedroom, full of life. Freddie loved laughing, so was almost always with people who could make him laugh."