Queen Margrethe of Denmark has been readmitted to hospital just days after undergoing treatment for a heart attack earlier this month. The former monarch was taken back to Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen after doctors discovered a large blood clot on her hip, resulting from a previous fall.
Health Update from the Palace
A statement from the Danish Royal Palace confirmed: "Her Majesty Queen Margrethe has been admitted to Rigshospitalet and has been treated, after a CT scan showed a large blood clot in the hip region as a result of a previous fall. It is expected that Queen Margrethe will now be hospitalised for a number of days. Her Majesty is doing well under the circumstances."
Family Reactions
King Frederik, her son, commented on his mother's health at a fun run event, stating he would visit her "when the opportunity arises." Queen Mary, her daughter-in-law, told reporters that the surgery had "gone well and as planned and she is in the best of hands."
Abdication and Health Issues
Margrethe, Denmark's longest-reigning monarch, abdicated in January 2024 after 52 years, passing the throne to her eldest son. In her New Year's Eve address in 2023, she cited health concerns as a factor: "The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation." She added, "I have decided that now is the right time."
Just months after her abdication, she was hospitalized following a fall at home. The head of communications, Lene Balleby, noted at the time that "according to the circumstances, the queen is doing well, but was admitted for observation."
A Remarkable Reign
During her lengthy reign, Margrethe received 42 official state visits and undertook 55 foreign state visits. She was known for her unconventional style and creative, opinionated nature. Her abdication was the first by a Danish monarch in nearly 900 years, a decision influenced by back surgery and other ailments that limited her activities.
