Queen Margrethe II hospitalised, battling new blood clot and dehydration, palace says
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has been admitted to hospital with a blood clot and dehydration.
The 86-year-old’s fresh health scare means she will no longer be able to attend the funeral of her cousin King Harald V of Norway, on Wednesday.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, seen in Stockholm on April 30, is in hospital with a blood clot and dehydration, the Danish Royal House has confirmed. WireImage
Margrethe II was planning to be in Oslo for the farewell along with her son King Frederik X and Queen Mary. Now, the Danish king and queen, their son and heir Crown Prince Christian and Margrethe’s younger sister Princess Benedikte will attend on behalf of Denmark.
The funeral of Norway’s king, who reigned for 35 years, will be the largest gathering of foreign royalty since Pope Francis’ death last year.
Margrethe II was admitted to the Rigshospitalet, in Copenhagen, on Sunday evening “after feeling unwell”, the Danish Royal House said.
“A new blood clot in the hip region and mild dehydration have been diagnosed, both of which are being treated,” the palace said in a statement.
“Queen Margrethe is in good spirits and is doing well under the circumstances.”
The queen, the palace said, is expected to remain in hospital this week “for both observation and treatment”.
Queen Margrethe has suffered a number of health issues recently and has been in and out of hospital multiple times this year.
On May 14, Margrethe had a heart attack and underwent a balloon angioplasty to the coronary artery days later.
She was discharged but admitted to hospital again, two weeks later, for a blood clot. A CT scan later revealed a large clot in the hip region, following a bad fall in September last year.
Queen Margrethe II turned 86 in April. She was seen, here, at Fredensborg Palace on her birthday, just days after Queen Mary’s own father John Donaldson died in Hobart. NurPhoto via Getty Images
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 most high-profile engagement of this year has been in Stockholm where Margrethe was a guest of her cousin, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, for celebrations for his 80th birthday.
Her decision to step down after a 52-year-reign came after a number of health issues, including major back surgery, in early 2023.
Queen Margrethe II, pictured next to Norway’s King Harald V in 2023, won’t be able to attend her cousin’s funeral in Oslo on Wednesday. Michael Campanella/Getty Images
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.
In May last year, Margrethe was hospitalised for several days after contracting a cold.
On Wednesday, King Frederik and Queen Mary will join royalty from around the world to farewell King Harald V of Norway.
Harald, who died on August 28 aged 89, was second cousin to Queen Margrethe II.
Queen Mary and her mother-in-law attened an engagement together on January 15, 2026 in Copenhagen. Margrethe occasionally carries out royal duties but has taken a major step back since her abdication and various health issues. Getty
Denmark and Norway, along with neighbouring Sweden, have historically shared close ties because of the Kalmar Union, when the three kingdoms were brought together under a single monarch from 1397 until 1523.
The bonds continue to this day and the royals of all three countries are not only related through previous royal marriages, but are colleagues and close friends.
King Frederik X and Queen Mary are close to Norway’s new royal couple, King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit. Like Mary, Mette-Marit was a commoner before marrying into Norway’s royal family in 2001.
King Frederik and Queen Mary, along with their son, will attend King Harald’s funeral on Wednesday in Oslo. AP
Late last week, Queen Mary said of the change of throne: “The Norwegian royal couple know that our thoughts are with them at a time of great change. They know that they have our full support and backing.”
Days earlier King Frederik paid tribute to Harald saying: “I remember him as a loveable person, my uncle”.
Frederik added: “I have full confidence in King Haakon...He needs time to establish himself in his new role as king and I look forward to helping him in every way.”
In June, Queen Margrethe hosted a lunch for her granddaughter Princess Isabella at Chancellery House, Queen Mary and King Frederik’s private home at Fredensborg Palace after her final exams. Queen Mary of Denmark/The Danish Royal House
Norway’s royal family has seen a rise in support, new polling suggests, after a turbulent few years plagued by health challenges and controversy.
Queen Mette-Marit had been admitted to hospital last week, missing a key moment of her husband’s new reign − the historic swearing-in ceremony in front of parliament, akin to a coronation.
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