Denmark's Former Queen Margrethe Hospitalised With Chest Pain Days After Abdication Anniversary

Denmark's former Queen Margrethe has been admitted to hospital after experiencing chest pain. The Royal House of Denmark said on Thursday that the 86-year-old was taken to Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen's main hospital, "this afternoon due to angina." She will remain in hospital over the weekend for observation and further examinations. The court added that the former sovereign is tired but in good spirits.

Margrethe reigned over the Scandinavian country for 52 years before passing the throne to her eldest son, Frederik, in January 2024. She had long vowed that she would never abdicate, but major back surgery in 2023 led to a change of heart. Since stepping down, she has largely stayed out of the public eye, though this latest health scare has brought her back into the headlines.

Hugely popular among Danes for subtly modernising the monarchy, Margrethe has faced multiple health problems in recent years. The back surgery was a turning point, and now angina has landed her back in hospital. The court's statement was brief but reassuring: observation, further examinations, a weekend stay. No mention of any immediate danger.

Beyond her royal duties, Margrethe has a significant interest in the arts. She is a designer who won a Danish film award for best costume in 2024. She translated Simone de Beauvoir's "All Men Are Mortal" under a pseudonym with her late husband, Prince Consort Henrik. She has also illustrated several books, including J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." It is an unusual CV for a monarch, but then again, Margrethe has never been a conventional royal.

For now, she is resting in Rigshospitalet. Danes, who have long held her in high affection, will be watching for updates. The queen who never wanted to abdicate is now the former queen who just wanted a quiet weekend. Instead, she got a hospital bed and a nation's concern.