Queen Mary of Denmark announces father’s death in heartbreaking statement | Royal | News

John Donaldson, father of Queen Mary of Denmark, has died in Tasmania, Australia, the royal house in Copenhagen said on Sunday. He died at the age of 84.

His health had been deteriorating in recent years, with Queen Mary last visiting him in March during a royal tour with her husband King Frederik X.

In today’s royal statement, Mary was quoted as saying: “My heart is heavy. But I know that when the grief passes the memories will brighten my day and what will remain strongest will be the love and gratitude for everything she gave me and taught me.”

The statement said the family will hold a private memorial service for Donaldson “at a later date.”

John Dalgleish Donaldson was born on 5 September 1941 in East Lothian, Scotland. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in mathematics and physics, he emigrated to Australia with his first wife, Henrietta Clark Horne, in the 1960s.

He was a respected mathematician who taught at the University of Tasmania for decades.

“He is turning into an old gentleman and is not well enough to make the long journey to Denmark for confirmation, but he is with us in our hearts,” the Queen said during the coronation.

A private memorial service for Donaldson will be held at a later date, and the family requests privacy at this time.