SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

Denmark

Denmark’s Royal Court reveals when Queen Margrethe hopes to return to duty after surgery

Queen Margrethe of Denmark expects to be able to resume all her constitutional duties by the middle of April, almost two months after extensive back surgery.

As plans for her 83rd birthday were announced, the Royal Court in Copenhagen confirmed that the Queen of Denmark hopes to take up all her powers again on the same day.

It means that other members of her family will continue to act as regent until at least April 16th 2023.

Queen Margrethe underwent planned surgery on February 22nd and remained in hospital for a week afterwards before continuing her recuperation at home.

Since then, her elder son, Crown Prince Frederik, and her sister, Princess Benedikte, have taken on the duty of the regency in turn. The Crown Prince is currently regent until the end of March 2023.

The Royal Court said that Queen Margrethe’s recovery was going well but there would still be engagements she couldn’t carry out as she got better and those would be announced as and when.

Queen Margrethe will celebrate her birthday with a balcony appearance. It is likely to be her first public appearance since her surgery.

On April 16th, as she turns 83, Her Majesty will appear on the balcony of Christian IX’s Palace at Amalienborg with her family. Just before that, there will be a ceremonial changing of the guard at the palace.

Margrethe II has ruled Denmark since January 1972 and is now the longest reigning monarch in Europe.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.