Margrethe II of Denmark: Former monarch is 85 years old

Queen Margrethe II (85) is not boring in royal retirement. On January 14, 2024, she thanked after 52 years and handed over the throne to her eldest son Frederik (56), who has proven to be a worthy successor and, together with his wife Mary (53), formed a glamorous royal couple. Nevertheless, Margrethe does not miss the opportunity to still make a number of appointments and indulge in their creative hobbies.

Last year she caused a huge fright with her subjects. The former monarch has not been on her feet since an extensive back operation in February 2023, for which she even gave up her beloved smoking. A walking stick is your loyal companion.

The notification of the palace on September 20 appeared all the more worrying that Margrethe II had suffered “an injury in the area of ​​the cervical spine and a break of the left hand two days earlier. As a result of the unfortunate fall, her left hand has now been plastered, and the queen will have to wear a stiff freak in the coming months. “At the same time, it was said by the royal palace that she was able to leave the rigshospital in Copenhagen again and return home at Fredensborg Castle.

On November 5, the Danes were able to breathe a sigh of relief. Her former queen, who kept her title despite abdication, took her first public appointment after the fall. At the awarding of the Ebbe-Munck honorary price at Christansborg Castle, she showed herself in a good mood with a walking stick in a light blue ensemble made of midi rock, blazer and turtleneck top. She shook hands with a beaming man and handed over the price – Margrethe was visibly back in her element after the forced break.

She was also there at the New Year’s reception on January 1 at Amalienburg Castle, to which Frederik and Mary had been royal couple for the first time, and shone in a cobalt blue robe. She also visited a ball for art and culture in the Castle of Christiansborg at the end of February. Together with her husband Prince Henrik (1934-2018), she launched the event in 1976 under the name “Arts et Lettres”. In the past few weeks she has also been showing herself at several events.

So although Margrethe still makes appointments for the royal family, her obligations have become much less since her abdication. So you have more time for her second great passion: art. She tinkers, paints and designs with enthusiasm. In the summer of 2024, Tivoli once again ran a piece in the Tivoli with the fairy tale ballet “Tölpel-Hans” in which the queen designed costumes and stage design. Of course, she did not miss the premiere on June 22nd in the Pantomime Theater.

In January a whole special artistic work was known from her. For the 250th anniversary of the Danish porcelain brand Royal Copenhagen, she designed an anniversary cup that is only available in 2025. “The motif of the cup is inspired by a fish that I painted in France many years ago. I always liked it and think the hand -painted decoration looks so beautiful on the porcelain,” she is quoted for a video in which she herself dares to brush brushes. Who knows, maybe Margrethe drinks her birthday coffee from her cup.