Queen Margrethe faces a long period of rehabilitation following back surgery, the Danish Royal Court has announced.
Queen Margrethe, who underwent major back surgery at the end of February, may be in rehabilitation over the next few months, with Crown Prince Frederik stepping in as regent “for the time being.”
The Danish Royal Court did not provide an estimated timeline for The Queen’s return to royal duties, however there are four members of the Royal Family who are able to step in as regent if Queen Margrethe is unavailable: Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim and Princess Benedikte.
Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Benedikte have taken on the duties of regent since Queen Margrethe’s back surgery; with her younger sister taking over while the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were in India for an official visit at the start of March.
The role of a regent in Denmark involves exercising all of the monarch’s regular duties while the monarch is either out of the country or incapacitated.
The Danish Royal Family’s calendar is currently updated until 20 March, with Crown Prince Frederik listed as regent until 17 March. Further updates on whether the regency period continues past this date will likely be announced in a few weeks’ time.
On 22 February, Queen Margrethe underwent surgery, with the Danish Royal Court announcing that the “operation went according to plan, and the Queen’s condition is good and stable under the circumstances.”
On 2 March, The Queen’s medical team shared that “The medical team responsible for the operation and subsequent hospitalization is satisfied with the process and the Queen’s condition.” Queen Margrethe stayed at the Rigshospitalet for just over a week convalescing.
The Danish Royal Court said that Queen Margrethe “expresses her deep gratitude for the professional and excellent treatment the Queen has received during her hospitalization at the Rigshospitalet.”
She is currently resting at Amalienborg.
