Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has been hospitalized for a third time this year, admitted to Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet on September 6 with a new blood clot in her hip region and mild dehydration. The 86-year-old, who abdicated the throne in January 2024, is expected to remain hospitalized for treatment and observation.
A statement from the Danish Royal House indicated that the former queen is in good spirits. However, her hospitalization means she will be unable to attend the funeral of King Harald V of Norway, scheduled for Wednesday.
This is the latest in a series of health issues for Margrethe, who has faced several medical challenges in recent years. In May, she was admitted to the hospital following a fall that resulted in a significant accumulation of blood in her hip area. This occurred just two weeks after she underwent an angioplasty procedure to address chest pains.
Margrethe, who was a heavy smoker for much of her life, stepped down as monarch after 52 years on the throne due to a major back operation. She passed the crown to her son, King Frederik X. Despite her abdication, she continues to play a role in Danish public life. Earlier this year, she made headlines for appearing to gently admonish Queen Mary at a royal event for crouching down to pet a dog.
Born in 1940, Margrethe has historically enjoyed broad public support in Denmark. She ascended the throne on January 15, 1972, following the death of her father. Her reign saw Denmark amend its constitution in 1953 to allow women to inherit the throne.
She was married in 1967 to Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, later styled as Prince Henrik, and they had two sons, Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim. Margrethe was the longest-serving monarch in Europe at the time of her abdication, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.