Queen Mary’s role as King Frederik spends weekend away, and an update Queen Margrethe’s health

Queen Mary was recently given a new role after King Frederik jetted off without her. She has also given an update on Queen Margrethe II’s health after her fall.

Queen Mary was recently given a new role after King Frederik jetted off to Germany without her to see family.

She acted as regent of Denmark for the first time since the change of throne in January, marking the first time she has formally governed Denmark in her role as Queen Consort.

The 52-year-old took on the role as her husband, King Frederik, was out of the country, Crown Prince Christian is in Africa and Queen Margrethe was recovering from a recent fall.

King Frederik’s location was confirmed after he was pictured in a German newspaper with his cousin Gustav Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, his wife Carina Axelsson, and their one-year-old son, Gustav Albrecht.

The news comes as Queen Mary also gave an update on the health of her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe II.

Queen Mary of Denmark also recently honoured seven inspirational teachers at the Opera in Copenhagen. Picture Instagram Hanne Juul, Aller Foto & Media

“Under the circumstances, she is doing very well,” Queen Mary told Danish magazine Billed Bladet, while attending the National Conference for Health Care Nurses, in partnership with the Mary Foundation, at the Tivoli Hotel & Congress Centre.

“I have had the opportunity to visit her a few times since she came home,” she added.

All of her engagements for the near future have also been cancelled.

Queen Margrethe will spend months in a neck brace and has a cast on her arm after the nasty fall which saw the former monarch raced to hospital.

The 84-year-old was released from hospital following her fall at Fredensborg Castle.

The Queen abdicated in January in favour of her son King Frederik and his Australian-born wife, Queen Mary.

Queen Margrethe with her son, King Frederik, Queen Mary and Princess Benedikte. The 84-year-old Queen has been hospitalised after a fall. Picture: AFP

Queen Margrethe has been admitted to Rigshospitalet University Hospital after a fall in the at Fredensborg Castle. Picture: AFP

The Queen, who is beloved by Danes, is known for her chain-smoking and love of dachshunds and was last seen in public earlier this week at the Rungstedlund Prize 2024 at the Karen Blixen Museum.

Despite resigning in her New Year’s Eve speech last year, the monarch remains active and performs royal duties alongside her son.

Queen Margrethe, with King Frederik, was in tears as she exits the room after her abdication signing. Picture: D2/Kongehuset

Fredensborg Castle, on the Dutch island of Zealand, is the royal family’s country home where they spend the northern hemisphere summer.

Queen Margrethe shocked Denmark after she announced she was abdicating during her annual New Year’s Eve TV speech.

Just two weeks later, she signed away the throne she had claimed for 52 years at a Council of State meeting. Frederik was crowned King and the Tasmanian-born Mary was crowned Queen.

Queen Margrethe with King Frederik, Queen Mary and their children in Copenhagen in May. Picture: AFP

She said one of the reasons why she chose to give up the throne was because of her health issues, adding that she underwent surgery for her back in February 2023.

“It went well, thanks to the skilled healthcare staff who took care of me. Of course, the operation also gave rise to thinking about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,” she said.

Originally published as Queen Mary’s role as King Frederik spends weekend away, and an update Queen Margrethe’s health