Princess Mary’s shock
The Aussie royal is facing her biggest challenge yet as Queen Margrethe’s health continues to deteriorate
With royal watchers tipping 2018 as the year Princess Mary and her husband Prince Frederik will take the reins as Queen and King of Denmark, Mary is already facing the prospect of a challenging few months.
But even more pressing is the news her beloved mother-in-law Queen Margrethe is struggling with poor health. Now, Mary is not only going to have to do more to support the ailing monarch with her royal duties, but help her close-knit family as they face the prospect of her deteriorating. “It’s worrying that the Queen isn’t in the best health,” an insider tells Woman’s Day. “That’s got to be tough on all the family, and it’s a huge blow for Mary especially after [the Queen’s husband] Henrik’s death in February. “Mary would naturally be very worried about what kind of effect this is going to have on Fred and the children. His family means everything to him, and the kids were deeply upset to lose their grandfather.” According to reports from Denmark, Margrethe, 78, has had to cancel a string of appearances because of her osteoporosis. She was recently too unwell to make the journey to Amalienborg Castle for a ceremony celebrating the appointment of Denmark’s new Minister of Business. It’s not the first time Margrethe has pulled out of an official engagement recently either. She’s also cancelled visits in Copenhagen as well as overseas visits to Chile and England. The Queen’s poor health would be of utmost concern to her beloved Australian daughter-in-law who she’s always shared a close bond with. “Everyone’s hoping the Queen is just getting the rest she needs and her condition isn’t going to get any worse,” the insider says.
“But she’s nearing her eighties now as it is, and she’s not in fantastic health for someone of her age. That’s got to be weighing on Mary’s mind.”
While the Queen’s condition is getting worse, it’s something she’s been struggling with for some time.
For more than 10 years, the Danish monarch has been battling spinal stenosis, where the spaces in the spine are narrowed and pressure is placed on the nerves as a result. She’s also been spotted visiting hospitals recently and had back surgery in 2003.
Frederik has had his own back problems after fracturing his spine while jumping on a trampoline, but it seems that’s nothing compared to Margrethe’s issues.
STEPPING UP
“It’s bad timing after what happened with Henrik, and if it falls to Fred and Mary to take care of Margrethe, then that’s going to be a lot for them to deal with,” says the insider.
Already one of the hardest working Danish royals, Mary, 46, who married Frederik in 2004 after meeting the handsome royal during the Sydney Olympics in 2000, is also mum to Christian, 12, Isabella, 11, and seven-year-old twins Vincent and Josephine.
On top of dealing with the stress of her mother-in-law’s worrying health issues, Mary and Fred – who celebrated his landmark 50th birthday in May – are having to step up and take on a lot more royal duties. It’s something that’s only set to continue as insiders predict it’s likely that Fred will be crowned King with Mary as his Queen Consort in the coming months.
HONOURING HENRIK
“Everything is changing for Mary and Fred,” adds the insider. “Although Henrik’s death was an incredibly sad time for the family, they haven’t been able to spend their days grieving, or really processing what’s happened. They want to honour him by continuing the duties of the royal family, and with Margrethe having her own health problems, there’s even more for them to take on.
“It’s been an extremely tough year for the family and it’s a lot of change for Mary to have to get used to. But she knows that there’s going to be even greater pressure on her family in the coming months and she’s desperately hoping she will be able to shield her family from any heartache.”
‘There’s even more for Mary and Fred to take on’