Queen Margrethe is home: Denmark's former Queen discharged after coronary angioplasty

Queen Margrethe has been discharged from Rigshospitalet, where she spent five days recovering. She is returning to Fredensborg Palace. The Queen had been admitted to the hospital on Thursday, May 14, after experiencing chest pain, a condition known as angina pectoris, which occurs when the heart muscle doesn't receive enough blood and oxygen. 

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In a statement from the Danish Royal House, the Queen expressed her gratitude for the many messages of support she received during her hospital stay. Following her discharge, a planned theatre engagement on May 23 has been cancelled, as the Queen will be focusing on her healing in the coming period. 

A Minimally Invasive Procedure With Satisfactory Recovery

The Danish Royal House confirmed that the Queen underwent an angioplasty, a minimally invasive procedure used to open blood vessels that are blocked or narrowed, restoring normal blood flow. It is most commonly applied to coronary arteries, though it can also be performed in other parts of the body, including the neck, kidneys, and legs. As confirmed by the Royal House, the Queen recovered satisfactorily from the procedure.

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"Her Majesty Queen Margrethe, who was admitted to Rigshospitalet on Thursday, has undergone a balloon angioplasty of a coronary artery," read a prior statement from the Royal House. 

"As previously announced, Queen Margrethe will remain at Rigshospitalet for a few more days. Her Majesty is making a good recovery."

A Sister's Visit and a Show of Family Solidarity

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This past weekend, the Queen received visits from her closest family members, including Princess Benedikte. "Everything is going well," she said to the press following the visit. Afterward, she continued with her royal engagements, attending the Klampenborg Racecourse for H.R.H. Princess Benedikte's Honorary Prize Race, an event held for female amateur riders.

Margrethe has two sisters: Benedikte and Anne-Marie, the daughters of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid. Anne-Marie married Constantine II of Greece and served as Queen from 1964 until the dissolution of the Greek monarchy in 1973. Despite living in different countries, the three women have remained close throughout their lives, supporting eachother throughout the different eras in their lives. 

© Martin Sylvest Andersen