Queen Mary of Denmark Resumes Royal Duties After Undisclosed Illness

Queen Mary of Denmark Resumes Royal Duties After Undisclosed Illness
The Danish Queen returned to work with a school visit, and she has a busy few weeks ahead

Danish Queen Mary participates in the School Force visit with the Mary Foundation at Pilehaveskolen.Queen Mary of Denmark at the School Force visit with the Mary Foundation at Pilehaveskolen on March 17, 2025 in Vallensbaek, Denmark.

Queen Mary of Denmark is back to work after canceling multiple public appearances last week due to a reported illness.

The Queen of Denmark, 53, stepped out on March 17, kicking off the workweek in Vallensbaek to see the School Force’s work with her namesake Mary Foundation at the Pilehaveskole school. Queen Mary officially launched The Mary Foundation in 2008, just a few years after marrying the future King Frederik of Denmark, to combat social isolation, and its scope has since expanded to tackling bullying, domestic violence and loneliness.

The outing marked the Queen’s first royal duty since March 5, as she unexpectedly cleared her calendar last week after falling ill. Queen Mary was due to attend the Heart Association’s annual awards ceremony at the Hotel d’Angleterre in Copenhagen on Wednesday, March 12, and an event for the Mary Foundation at the University of Copenhagen on Friday, March 14, but she canceled both appearances at the last minute.

Danish Queen Mary participates in the School Force visit with the Mary Foundation at Pilehaveskolen
Queen Mary of Denmark at the School Force visit with the Mary Foundation at Pilehaveskolen on March 17, 2025 in Vallensbaek, Denmark. Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty
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A spokesperson for the Danish Royal House told local outlet B.T. that she would miss the Heart Association awards because she was sick but didn’t disclose anything further.

“Her Majesty the Queen, like many others right now, has become ill, and therefore unfortunately cannot participate in the Heart Association’s award ceremony,” the court’s communications department told B.T. in a piece published on March 12.

Danish Queen Mary participates in the School Force visit with the Mary Foundation at Pilehaveskolen
Queen Mary of Denmark at the School Force visit with the Mary Foundation at Pilehaveskolen on March 17, 2025 in Vallensbaek, Denmark. Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty
To show support for the event, Queen Mary sent a message on social media. The Queen posted photos of colorful hand-drawn pictures she received, along with a bouquet in a box.

“Thank you for the thoughtfulness. What a lovely surprise to receive this bouquet and drawings, even though illness prevented me from participating in the Heart Association’s event ‘Sammen om hrt’. I was looking forward to presenting the Heart Award with heart children Alma and Ellen and meeting some of the young people living with heart disease,” Queen Mary captioned the snaps on Instagram, per a translation. “Hopefully we can meet another time.”

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“As a patron of the Heart Association, I would like to congratulate the health staff at Denmark’s three largest children’s heart ambulatories on receiving the Heart Award 2025 – thank you and to all those who make a difference in the field of the heart every day,” she added. The royal signed the message as “H.M. Dronningen,” which is shorthand for and translates to Her Majesty, the Queen.

Queen Mary appeared to be back in her element during the school stop on Monday, where she met pupils and heard from the student council about how well-being could be improved across the school. The Danish Queen is a pro at connecting with young people, and she shares teens Crown Prince Christian, 19, Princess Isabella, 17, and 14-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine with King Frederik, 56.

Danish Queen Mary participates in the School Force visit with the Mary Foundation at Pilehaveskolen. Queen Mary of Denmark at the School Force visit with the Mary Foundation at Pilehaveskolen on March 17, 2025 in Vallensbaek, Denmark. Martin Sylvest Ande

The royal couple has a busy few weeks ahead, as they will pay a state visit to France from March 31 to April 2. The family will then ring in Princess Isabella’s 18th birthday on April 21 with multiple celebrations, including an artistic tribute at Aarhus City Hall on April 11 followed by a birthday performance at The Royal Danish Theatre on April 15.

After their eldest daughter’s big day, the King and Queen will hit the road again to go to Japan from April 23 to April 25 for an accession visit. Frederik became King upon the abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe of Denmark in January 2024, making his Australian wife the new Queen of Denmark.

Queen Mary of Denmark arrive for a state diner at the Elysee Palace on March 31, 2025 in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron are hosting King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark, during the first state visit by a Danish sovereign since 1978.
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