Freddie Mercury's long-term partner was Jim Hutton. They were together for about seven years until Mercury's death in 1991. Although they were not legally married, they exchanged wedding bands, and Mercury referred to Hutton as his husband. Hutton was an Irish hairdresser whom Mercury met in 1985, and their relationship was deeply caring and private. Hutton was by Mercury's side when he passed away from AIDS-related complications and later moved back to Ireland, where he died in 2010.