COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - JANUARY 15: Queen Margrethe of Denmark arrives to participate in the Danish Parliament's celebration of the succession of the throne at Danish Parliament on January 15, 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark. King Frederik X is succeeding Queen Margrethe II, who has stepped down after reigning for 51 years. (Photo by Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images)
Queen Margrethe of Denmark will be kept in for observation over the weekend (Picture: Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images)

The former Queen of Denmark is ‘tired but in good spirits’ after she was taken to hospital following a heart attack.

Queen Margrethe was rushed to Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen’s largest public and teaching hospital, on Thursday afternoon.

The 86-year-old will remain in the hospital over the weekend for observation and further tests, the royal household said in a statement.

It read: ‘Her Majesty Queen Margrethe has been admitted to Rigshospitalet this afternoon due to a heart attack.

‘Queen Margrethe will be admitted over the weekend for observation and further examinations.

FILE PHOTO: Queen Margrethe on her 86th birthday, in the Inner Courtyard at Fredensborg Palace, Fredensborg, Denmark, April 16, 2026. Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. DENMARK OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN DENMARK./File Photo
Unusually, Margrethe abdicated in 2024 after 52 years as monarch (Picture: via REUTERS)

Sign up for all of the latest stories

Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.

‘Her Majesty is tired, but in good spirits.

‘The Royal House will announce when there is news.’

Despite stepping back from the throne in 2024 – making her the first Danish sovereign to willingly do so in almost 900 years – Margrethe remains Denmark’s longest-reigning monarch, having worn the crown for 52 years.

Citing health as one of the reasons for her abdication, she said in an address on New Year’s Eve 2023 that she had undergone ‘extensive back surgery’ before she stepped down.

She said: ‘Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me.

FILE PHOTO: Denmark's Queen Margrethe attends the awarding of the Rungstedlund Prize 2024 at the Karen Blixen Museum in Rungsted Kyst, Denmark, September 16, 2024. Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard/via REUTERS /File Photo
Margrethe has been hospitalised multiple times in the past few years (Picture: via REUTERS)

‘Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future – whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation.

‘I have decided that now is the right time.’

She passed the baton to King Frederik X and his wife, Australian-born Queen Mary.

Even after abdicating, Margrethe has held onto her Queen title and continues to carry out royal engagements.

But she has been hospitalised on multiple occasions since her surgery. She previously had to cancel an official appearance after she suffered a fall at her home of Fredensborg Palace in Zealand.

She was again forced to pull out of a royal engagement when she contracted a cold last year.

“As a result of the cold HM Queen Margrethe has contracted, it has been decided that the Queen will be admitted to Rigshospitalet for observation as a precaution,” the Danish Royal House said in a statement.

Arrow
MORE: Harry ‘wants Archie and Lilibet to start making memories with Charles now’

Arrow
MORE: All the quirky and unusual traditions during King’s Speech

Arrow
MORE: Royal family’s secret codenames revealed — from Sharon to Unicorn

News Updates

Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.