Last week, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II had back surgery. I saw the story in People Mag and I thought “that’s interesting” and that was it. I didn’t realize that the surgery was so major that QMII will have to convalesce and rehabilitate for some time, and that she’s already upgraded Crown Prince Frederik to “regent.” Basically, he’s acting monarch while Margrethe is loopy on painkillers.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who has made headlines in recent months after stripping four of her grandchildren of their royal titles, has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home after undergoing an operation on her back, the Danish royal house has announced.
The Danish queen, 82, who is Europe’s longest reigning monarch and the world’s only reigning female monarch, has spent more than a week in Rigshospitalet, a leading hospital in Copenhagen, after the ‘extensive’ procedure. There will now be a ‘lengthy’ rehabilitation process. Her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, will remain as regent after returning from India with his wife, Crown Princess Mary.
‘Her Majesty The Queen has been discharged from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen today after a successful back operation last week. The Queen is now residing at Amalienborg. The medical team responsible for the operation and the subsequent hospitalization is satisfied with the process and with The Queen’s condition. Awaiting now is a lengthy physical rehabilitation process, which may extend over the next few months. His Royal Highness The Crown Prince will continue as regent for the time being. The Queen expresses her great gratitude for the professional and good treatment that The Queen received during the hospitalisation at Rigshospitalet.’
Here in America, when the president has surgery or has any kind of general anesthesia, he’ll sign a 25th Amendment invocation and the vice-president becomes acting president for however long. That’s what this is – QMII was under anesthesia and she’s probably still on heavy painkillers, so Frederik is in charge if there’s any kind of Danish constitutional issue. What also concerns me is her age – she’s 82 years old and she had major back surgery with a planned recuperation which could last for months. For many seniors, that kind of major surgery is the beginning of the end. That being said, good for Margrethe for taking steps to make her son regent – that’s something Queen Elizabeth II never did, regardless of her poor health in her last years.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- Her Majesty The Queen Margrethe turns 80 on April 16, 2020. In connection with her birthday, the Royal House will publish a new art portrait series by photographer Per Morten Abrahamsen. Past, present and future. The portrait of the Queen, Crown Prince and Prince Christian is taken in the Red Salon in Christian IX’s mansion in Amalienborg. In the background of the picture on the left stands a bust of Frederick 9, so in fact four generations of past, present and future regenter gathered. EDITORIAL USE ONLY! / MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED IN BOOKS AND ILLUSTRATED BOOKS!,Image: 564236769, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: UK, USA and AUS ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stella Pictures / Stella Pictures / Avalon
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- Her Majesty The Queen Margrethe turns 80 on April 16, 2020. In connection with her birthday, the Royal House will publish a new art portrait series by photographer Per Morten Abrahamsen. Past, present and future. The portrait of the Queen, Crown Prince and Prince Christian is taken in the Red Salon in Christian IX’s mansion in Amalienborg. In the background of the picture on the left stands a bust of Frederick 9, so in fact four generations of past, present and future regenter gathered. EDITORIAL USE ONLY! / MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED IN BOOKS AND ILLUSTRATED BOOKS!,Image: 564236773, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: UK, USA and AUS ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stella Pictures / Stella Pictures / Avalon
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- Queen Margrethe II of Denmark attending a Service of Thanksgiving for HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey, London, England, UK on Tuesday 29 March, 2022.,Image: 674182482, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Please credit photographer and agency when publishing as Justin Ng/UPPA/Avalon., Model Release: no, Credit line: Justin Ng / Avalon
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- Denmark’s Queen Margrethe and Crown Prince Frederik pay their respects to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, following her death, during her lying-in-state at Westminster Hall, in London, Britain, September 18, 2022.,Image: 724022711, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: SARAH MEYSSONNIER / Avalon
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- Queen Margrethe II The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, Service, West Door, Westminster Abbey, London, UK – 19 Sep 2022,Image: 724158816, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: James Veysey/Shutterstock / Avalon
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- Copenhagen, DENMARK – Crown Princess Mary of Denmark at the Copenhagen University in Copenhagen. The Crown Princess opens a new knowledge center, which will wear the name Crown Princess Mary Center – solving problems through research and partnerships, on the occasion of the Crown Princess’s 50th birthday. Pictured: Crown Princess Mary of Denmark BACKGRID USA 2 FEBRUARY 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Cahors, FRANCE – Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, accompanied by Rachel Amalric, director of the museum and Jean-Marc Vayssouze-Faure mayor of Cahors, inaugurates her exhibition “Margrethe, artist-Queen”, which brings together all of her artistic work presented at the Henri-Martin museum in Cahors, France, on August 17, 2022, a neighboring town to the Château de Caïx, property of the Danish royal family. Pictured: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark BACKGRID USA 17 AUGUST 2022 BYLINE MUST READ: Best Image / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Queen Margrethe II of Denmark attending a Gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace for the Queen her 50th Jubilee of Government in Copenhagen. Where: Copenhagen, Denmark When: 11 Sep 2022 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
That these institutions still exist shows how very little we’ve actually evolved. For goodness sake, abolish the monarchy. People deserve better.
I’m a couple generations behind this queen, but from my back surgery experience I was told that I had to take 6 weeks off work regardless of how awesome I felt afterwards. That may be part of the case here. The doctors and such didn’t want me overdoing it and having to go back under the knife, so-to-speak.
I agree it would be the beginning of the end for many seniors, but these Royals are tremendously coddled people living luxurious lives with the best medical care and leisurely days servants to do all the manual labor for them. It’s not like she spent years lifting babies and mopping floors and getting repetitive stress injuries from a factory line job. Her body’s physical age is probably a lot younger than her years compared to other women of the same era.
She has several underlying medical conditions that have nothing to do with what she has or hasn’t done in her life. She’s had multiple previous surgeries for her knees and back as well.
Didn’t realize we only have one reigning female monarch now.
In the Netherlands, there were female monarchs for more than a hundred years before Willem-Alexander. Suddenly having a king was weird getting used to as well.
In a few decades there’ll be several though, ironically, not in the two countries which are so identified with them—Denmark and the UK where the next two generations are men.
but Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Belgium all have a female heir in one of the next two generations if not both. For the latter three, it’ll be their first female monarch in modern history.
What actual work does she do?
I don’t think she has any gov’t power does she?
So her kid is holding her spot for her for 3 weeks, big deal.
At most showing up for a photo op some place.
None of the royals work, they are all figure heads who get dressed up and shake hands.
Down with all royalty.
On the one hand, I think it’s silly that the Queen never officially made Charles regent and stayed on till the very end, but then, I think about Charles and I get it. Obv, the bigger answer is abolish the monarchy. Anyway, hope this queen recovers nicely.
True, considering the disaster that Charles is making of it now, she kept it from him as long as possible. William is even worse than Charles so only a steep downhill path now.
Apparently she knew her so better than we do. Fascinating, really. This queen trusts her son, the other one clearly didn’t. And for good reason, it seems.
I thought her sister was the current regent bc the prince is in India? He’d resume the responsibilities when he returns.
Princess Benedikte was acting Head of State from 2/25 to 3/1 while Frederik and Mary were in India. They have now returned to Denmark and Frederik is regent again.
82. Go ahead and retire.
But, she will keep going as Queen. Ego.
I wonder if the new regent is working on a long term plan for when she goes?
It was said that Charles was planning for his time for years.
But from the looks of it, to me, I think he has only been planning his Con-A-Nation 3 day party for himself for years.
Not to be a huge bitch about Charles, but I think he has maybe 5 years at most as King.
I don’t think QE II trusted Charles to ever make him regent while she was alive, regardless of how sick she was. I think she knew Camilla had the strings that controlled him and that with the power in their hands they would do irreparable damage and she didn’t want to be alive to see any of it. Let their mess as monarchs stink when she was gone – she didn’t have to endure the stench.
For those that do not follow the Danish Royal Family – Crown Prince Frederik was regent starting 2/20. Her surgery was 2/22. He was regent until 2/25. Then he and Crown Princess Mary left on a pre-planned large 4 day official visit to India from which they returned late yesterday. While they were abroad, Princess Benedikte (QMII’s sister) became rigfostander (the name for the person stepping in for the Queen that is not the direct heir – FYI – Frederik, as heir, is the only one that can be called regent, every else [Princess Benedikte, Prince Joachim and Crown Princess Mary are called rigforstander]). Crown Prince Frederik will assume all duties of regent until further notice. And by the way, I am one of those that think that Queen Margrethe should step aside for Frederik to take over. He is more than ready (he runs circles around Charles). And I doubt the Danish Royal Family is going anywhere any time soon. They have a high approval rating (Frederik and Mary being the most popular) and they are the oldest monarchy in Europe.
‘Regent’ doesn’t have the equivalent meaning UK vs. Denmark from what I understand. A handful of people have the ability to be temporarily named Regent for certain periods. When Margrethe is out of the country, someone in-country is temp named Regent. When she returns, they’re no longer ‘regent’ but are in the pile of people who can be named regent another time. In the UK it would have been Charles named Regent and permanently taking over control from QEII.