AN exhibition of memorabilia of the legendary rock band Queen will be on display in the Banqueting Hall at Knebworth House, from August 4 to 31.

The display will focus on the band’s 1986 The Magic Tour, which played the UK and nine European countries throughout the summer before ending at Knebworth Park on August 9, where Queen played to a record crowd of 125,000 people.

The Knebworth concert was the last ever gig for Queen with flamboyant singer Freddie Mercury, who chose to stop performing after the concert. Freddie died in 1991.

The remaining members of the band were not to perform again live until 1992, when they staged the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert - For Aids Awareness, in his memory.

The Queen Rock Magic exhibition is endorsed by Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor and is made possible with the support of Universal Music.

Queen fans have loaned a great deal of material for the exhibition, including the centre piece of the exhibition: the iconic yellow jacket with white trousers and red stripe which is synonymous with Freddie.

Visitors will also be able to see a collection of stage costumes, posters, band items, concert tickets, stage passes, drum sticks and exclusive pictures.

Numerous pieces of Queen memorabilia from the Magic Tour will be on display.

Martha Lytton Cobbold, managing director of Lytton Enterprises, said: “Knebworth is, of course, very well known for its concerts throughout the last four decades.

“Our previous two exhibitions – Led Zeppelin in 2008 and Knebworth Rock in 2009 – were very popular and successful.

“We are sure this exhibition will also attract a lot of interest and bring back many happy memories this summer.”

Jacky Smith, secretary of the Official International Queen Fan Club, curator of the exhibition, added: “It’s very exciting that we have managed to collect so much memorabilia from that legendary last Queen tour, and are able to display it at such an iconic venue as Knebworth House.

“This exhibition is a must for Queen fans everywhere!”

The exhibition is open daily from noon until 5pm (last tour 4pm) and entrance is included in the cost of the house tour. All tours are guided, except on weekends when the house operates a ‘free flow’ system.

Visitors will be given the opportunity to spend more time viewing the exhibition at the end of their tour.

Adult admission costs �10.50, including the house, with special rates for groups, senior citizens and children.

A Family Day Ticket for four people is �37 including the house. The entrance cost includes the exhibition, park, adventure playground, miniature railway, gardens, and dinosaur trail. Parking is free.

For further details, contact Charlotte Farrer, on 01438 810931 or go to Knebworth House’s website.