Danish Royal Family: Princess Mary, mother-in-law to Queen Margrethe, has to undergo major back surgery

Princess Mary’s mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, has had major back surgery after suffering pain for ‘quite a while’.

The 83-year-old monarch will have surgery on February 22 after consulting doctors, according to a statement on the Danish royal family’s official website.

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It is expected that Margrethe will have a long rehabilitation period after the operation.

“Her Majesty has been afflicted with back problems for some time and the situation has recently deteriorated,” the palace said.

“After consulting the specialists at Rigshospitalet, The Queen has decided to undergo extensive surgery.

“The operation is scheduled for Wednesday 22 February at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, where The Queen will also be hospitalized afterwards.

“Consequently, a longer sequence of physical rehabilitation is to be expected.

“This means that Her Majesty’s official program will be postponed, canceled or handled by other members of the royal family in the near future.”

This undoubtedly means that Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary will be busier than usual.

Frederik’s younger brother Joachim and the Queen’s sister Benedikte are also likely to take on additional tasks.

Margethe’s back problems have resulted in her having to sit at official events in recent months.

The eighty-year-old is now the longest-reigning monarch in the world after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

She celebrated her golden anniversary in September last year, marking her 50th year on the throne.

Her daughter-in-law Princess Mary recently celebrated her 51st birthday with the release of a new official portrait.

In the photo by Stine Heilmann, a smiling Mary wears a black and white polka dot shirt, her hair tied back in a simple ponytail.

When the portrait was posted to the royal family’s Instagram account, they were flooded with compliments.

“Crown Princess Mary is a star,” wrote one fan.

“You make Australia very proud,” wrote another.

“You have so much class Princess Mary,” added a third.

“Proud that your roots are in Australia.”

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