The former Queen of Denmark has been rushed to hospital after suffering a heart attack. Queen Margrethe was taken to Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen's largest public and teaching hospital, on Thursday afternoon, May 14. The 86-year-old monarch will remain in the hospital over the weekend for observation and further tests, the royal household confirmed in a statement.
The statement read: "Her Majesty Queen Margrethe has been admitted to Rigshospitalet this afternoon due to a heart attack. Queen Margrethe will be admitted over the weekend for observation and further examinations. Her Majesty is tired, but in good spirits. The Royal House will announce when there is news."
Abdication and Health Concerns
Despite stepping back from the throne in 2024 — making her the first Danish sovereign to willingly abdicate in nearly 900 years — Margrethe remains Denmark's longest-reigning monarch, having worn the crown for 52 years. Citing health as one of the reasons for her abdication, she revealed in a New Year's Eve address in 2023 that she had undergone "extensive back surgery" before stepping down.
She said at the time: "Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel who took care of me. Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future — whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation. I have decided that now is the right time."
Post-Abdication Life
She passed the baton to King Frederik X and his wife, Australian-born Queen Mary. Even after abdicating, Margrethe has retained her Queen title and continues to carry out royal engagements. However, she has been hospitalized on multiple occasions since her surgery. She previously had to cancel an official appearance after suffering a fall at her home, Fredensborg Palace in Zealand. She was again forced to pull out of a royal engagement when she contracted a cold last year.
The former queen is known for her resilience and dedication to her duties, and her current hospitalization has drawn concern from well-wishers across Denmark and beyond. The royal family has requested privacy as she undergoes further medical evaluations.
