Queen Margrethe II leaves hospital after heart surgery

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II is recovering at home after being discharged from hospital following heart surgery.

The 86-year-old was admitted on Thursday last week after suffering a suspected heart attack.

She underwent a balloon angioplasty to the coronary artery on Friday.

Margrethe, who abdicated the throne in 2024 for her son and his Australian-born wife Queen Mary, is now resting at Fredensborg Palace.

The former monarch lives at the royal residence, north of Copenhagen. A fortnight ago, King Frederik and Queen Mary were officially welcomed to the palace where they traditionally stay during the summer months.

In a statement the Royal House said: "Her Majesty Queen Margrethe has been discharged from Rigshospitalet today and is returning to Fredensborg Palace.

"Queen Margrethe also wishes to thank you for the many kind thoughts and greetings that have been sent to Her Majesty."

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The queen needs rest, the palace added, and an official engagement at Tivoli's Pantomime Theatre on Saturday has now been cancelled.

Margrethe II was admitted to the Rigshospitalet, Denmark's largest hospital in Copenhagen, on Thursday which happened to be the same day that King Frederik and Queen Mary marked their 22nd wedding anniversary.

Her most recent high-profile outing was on April 30 when she and King Frederik and Queen Mary attended the 80th birthday celebrations of Sweden's King.

Since her abdication two years ago, Margrethe has continued to carry out official duties but on a much smaller scale to when she was on the throne.

Her decision to abdicate the Danish throne after a 52-year-reign came after a number of health issues, including major back surgery in early 2023.

In her New Year's Eve speech announcing plans to step down, in December 2023, Margrethe said the surgery led to "thoughts about the future" and when to pass on the responsibilities of the crown to her son.

"I have decided that now is the right time," she said in her speech.

"The time takes its toll, and the number of 'ailments' increases... One cannot undertake as much as one managed in the past," she added.

Margrethe has been using a walking stick for some years now and is often seated at engagements.

Last May, Margrethe was hospitalised for several days after contracting a cold.

Meanwhile, Queen Mary was at work on Tuesday meeting with two Australian university students on exchange.

The Tasmanian-born royal was at the University of Copenhagen to award The Queen Mary Scholarship to two new recipients.

The scholarship is awarded annually to two Australian exchange students with high academic achievements who are looking for professional and cultural development during their stay in Denmark.

This year, the scholarships were presented to Saffron Dewsnap from Deakin University and Charlotte Ines Ostrowski from the University of Melbourne.

The Queen Mary Scholarship was created by the University of Copenhagen as part of the university's wedding gift to the royal couple in 2005.

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