John Donaldson, Father of Denmark’s Queen Mary, Dies at 84
John Donaldson, the father of Denmark’s Australian-born Queen Mary, has passed away in Hobart, Tasmania, at the age of 84. The Royal House of Copenhagen announced his death on Sunday, noting that his health had been declining in recent years. Queen Mary visited him in late March, shortly before his passing. Born in Scotland in 1941, Donaldson was a professor of applied mathematics. He became a prominent public figure after his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, married Crown Prince Frederik in 2004. The couple met during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and Mary ascended to the throne as Queen Consort in January 2024 following the abdication of Queen Margrethe II. In a statement, Queen Mary expressed her deep grief, stating that her heart is heavy but emphasizing her gratitude for the love and lessons her father provided. Donaldson’s first wife, Henrietta Clark Donaldson, died in 1997, and he later married Susan Moody in 2001. The family plans to hold a private memorial service at a later date. His death marks a significant personal loss for the Danish royal family, highlighting the close ties between the monarchy and Mary’s Australian roots.
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John Donaldson, Father of Denmark’s Queen Mary, Dies at 84
John Donaldson, the father of Denmark’s Australian-born Queen Mary, has passed away in Hobart, Tasmania, at the age of 84. The Royal House of Copenhagen announced his death on Sunday, noting that his health had been declining in recent years. Queen Mary visited him in late March, shortly before his passing. Born in Scotland in 1941, Donaldson was a professor of applied mathematics. He became a prominent public figure after his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, married Crown Prince Frederik in 2004. The couple met during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and Mary ascended to the throne as Queen Consort in January 2024 following the abdication of Queen Margrethe II. In a statement, Queen Mary expressed her deep grief, stating that her heart is heavy but emphasizing her gratitude for the love and lessons her father provided. Donaldson’s first wife, Henrietta Clark Donaldson, died in 1997, and he later married Susan Moody in 2001. The family plans to hold a private memorial service at a later date. His death marks a significant personal loss for the Danish royal family, highlighting the close ties between the monarchy and Mary’s Australian roots.
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