Queen Mary of Denmark makes first public since her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe left hospital following fall that left her with multiple injuries

Queen Mary of Denmark was photographed today attending an event in Copenhagen, her first public appearance since her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe was discharged from hospital last week.

The 84-year-old Queen, who made the shocking decision to abdicate in January to allow her son, King Frederik, to succeed her, suffered a fall last week while staying at Fredensborg Castle.

Last Friday, Danish publication DRreported that an official statement from the Danish Royal Palace about the Queen’s condition said she had been discharged, but that she had suffered an injury to her cervical vertebra and a fracture to her left hand in the fall.

The statement said: ‘Queen Margrethe is in good spirits and is doing well under the circumstances, but will be ill for an extended period of time.’

Today, King Frederik’s wife Mary was photographed at the National Conference for Community Nurses with The Mary Foundation, where she gave a speech.

Despite the recent stress caused by her mother-in-law’s accident, 52-year-old Queen Mary looked confident and was snapped smiling as she made her public appearance.

Looking summery and fresh, she opted for a light blue long-sleeved blouse. Her top was tucked into a pleated white maxi skirt with a floral print that featured multiple shades, including blue and red.

She completed the look with a pair of nude pointed-toe high-heeled pumps and a red handbag.

Mother of four Mary wore her glossy chestnut locks loose, allowing them to fall in soft waves past her shoulders. Her makeup look was natural, with a fresh base and pink lips.

Following Queen Margrethe’s accident last week, all public gatherings are likely to be cancelled while the queen recovers. The queen will also have to wear a neck brace to allow her spinal injury to heal.

King Frederik, the 55-year-old eldest of Margrethe’s two sons, spoke publicly on Thursday about the news that his mother had been admitted to hospital.

He told reporters he had spoken to his mother and was confident she was “in good hands.”

He added: ‘We are taking it day by day. The doctors are the ones who decide.’

The King delivered a speech as he arrived at the Danish capital’s City Hall to attend festivities marking the 100th anniversary of the Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir.

Margrethe, a third cousin of Queen Elizabeth, was due to attend an event at Aarhus University today but has now cancelled.

Her Majesty, known for her chain smoking and love of dachshunds, was last seen on Monday when she attended the 2024 Rungstedlund Prize at the Karen Blixen Museum.

Despite resigning in her New Year’s speech last year, the Queen remains active and fulfills her royal duties together with her son.

Fredensborg Castle on the Dutch island of Zeeland is the country residence of the royal family, where they spend the summer.

Margrethe shocked the nation with the announcement of her resignation during her live broadcast on New Year’s Eve.

Just 14 days later, Margaret, who had reigned for 52 years, abdicated at a meeting of the Council of State and her son Frederick was crowned King of Denmark.

She said that one of the reasons she decided to give up the throne was her health problems. In February 2023, she underwent surgery on her back.

She said: ‘It went well, thanks to the skilled care staff who looked after me. Of course, the operation also gave rise to thinking about the future – whether it was time to pass the responsibility on to the next generation.’

She is still known as Her Majesty Queen Margrethe and can act as regent when King Frederik, Queen Mary and Crown Prince Christian are abroad, ill or on holiday.

Just a week after abdicating the crown, the royal family attended a special church service at Aarhus Cathedral together with her son, King Frederik, and his wife Queen Mary.

In Denmark, formal power lies with the elected parliament and government. The monarch is expected to stand above party politics and represent the nation with traditional duties ranging from state visits to national celebrations.

Margrethe was born in 1940 and has had a lot of support from Danes all her life. They love her tactful yet creative personality. The prime minister has previously described her as ‘the epitome of Denmark’.

The monarch made headlines in 2022 when she stripped the royal titles of the four children of her youngest son, Prince Joachim.

She was very close to her third cousin, Queen Elizabeth II, both descendants of Queen Victoria. They had built a strong bond during various state visits to each other’s countries over the decades. The last time Margrethe was received at Windsor was in 2000.

The six-foot tall Margrethe is one of Denmark’s most popular public figures. She often walked the streets of Copenhagen virtually unaccompanied, winning the admiration of Danes for her warm manner and her talents as a linguist and designer.

She was an avid skier and, as a princess, was part of a Danish women’s air force unit, taking part in judo lessons and endurance tests in the snow.

In 2011, at the age of 70, she visited Danish troops in southern Afghanistan, dressed in military overalls.

As monarch, she travelled throughout the country, frequently visiting Greenland and the Faroe Islands, the two semi-independent territories that form part of the Danish Empire, and was greeted by cheering crowds everywhere.

Denmark has the oldest reigning monarchy in Europe, with its origins dating back to the Viking king Gorm the Old, who died in 958. Although Margrethe is head of state, her involvement in party politics is strictly prohibited under the Danish constitution.

Margrethe was born a week after Nazi Germany invaded Denmark. The occupation meant that the little princess became a symbol of hope for the Danes.

She ascended the throne on January 15, 1972, after the death of her father.

Although she was his eldest child, she did not become heir presumptive to the throne until 1953, when the Danish constitution was amended to allow women to ascend the throne.

This followed a referendum in which more than 85 percent of participants voted in favor of female succession to the throne.

She married a Frenchman, Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat, later called Prince Henrik, in 1967. They had two sons, Prince Frederick and Prince Joachim.

Despite being married for 50 years, her relationship with Henrik was plagued by controversy. Henrik stunned Danes by saying he felt he had been cast aside by his wife in his own home.

Prince Henrik died in 2018 at the age of 83.

On the day she became monarch, she appeared on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Denmark and pledged allegiance to the nation.