Queen Margrethe of Denmark has been admitted to Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen's main hospital, due to angina. The Royal Danish House issued a press release confirming the news and stating that the former queen will remain under observation over the weekend, with further tests to be conducted. The Royal House added that it would issue a new statement as soon as there were further developments.
© NurPhoto via Getty ImagesMargrethe turned 86 on April 16. Her hospitalization falls on the same day that King Frederik and Queen Mary are celebrating their 22nd wedding anniversary.
Angina is a symptom characterized by chest pain, discomfort, or pressure that occurs when the heart muscle doesn't receive enough oxygen. The condition is often associated with coronary artery disease and can feel like a squeezing or heaviness in the chest, a sensation that patients sometimes mistake for indigestion.
A Spring of Royal Engagements
© WireImageQueen Margrethe was last seen in public on April 30, when she attended King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden's 80th birthday celebrations in Stockholm. The festivities included a Te Deum mass, a lunch, and a grand state banquet at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Among the guests were King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark, and the King and Queen of Thailand. Margrethe appeared to be in good health throughout the day, engaging with fellow guests.
Earlier that month, on April 18, Margrethe attended the confirmation of her grandchildren, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, at Fredensborg Palace Chapel. King Felipe VI of Spain, who is Vincent's godfather, also attended the ceremony.
Despite her hospitalization, the Royal House has not suspended the items on her royal agenda. She is reportedly scheduled to attend the reopening of the play on May 23rd, as reported by HOLA! Spain. Throughout her life, Margrethe has been a devoted supporter of the arts, regularly attending theater and ballet performances.
© Martin Sylvest AndersenQueen Margrethe's Health in Recent Years
In February 2023, Queen Margrethe underwent extensive back surgery to address some symptoms that had been worsening and affecting her quality of life. The procedure required a significant period of rehabilitation and ultimately played a role in her decision to abdicate.
Margrethe passed the throne to her eldest son, Frederik, in January 2024, after reigning for 52 years. In her own words, as reported by HOLA! Spain: "The surgery made me think about my future and whether the time had come to pass this responsibility on to the next generation."
© IDA MARIE ODGAARD
