Danish Royal Household Announces Death of Queen's Father

The Danish royal household announced on Sunday that Queen Mary's father had died in Hobart, Tasmania, at the age of 84. The announcement was shared through the royal family's official Instagram account, accompanied by a black and white photograph taken on March 23, 2026. In the statement, the Queen expressed sorrow over the loss.

The royal household noted that his health had been declining over the past few years, and he was too frail for long-haul journeys to Denmark. The death occurred weeks after the Queen and King Frederik X completed a six-day official visit to Australia. During a visit to her father in late March following the state visit, the pair shared time together, according to the royal house.

Background and Family The father was born in Scotland on September 5, 1941, and pursued a career as a professor of applied mathematics.

He relocated to Tasmania with his first wife in November 1963, where their youngest daughter was born in Hobart in 1972. The Queen is the youngest of four children. The mother served as executive assistant to the vice-chancellor of the University of Tasmania before her death in 1997.

The family includes two elder sisters and an older brother. Though raised primarily in Australia, the future Queen began her education at Clear Lake City Elementary School in Houston, Texas, while her father worked at the Johnson Space Center.

Memorial and Legacy The family confirmed that a private memorial service will take place at a later date.

The announcement highlighted the father's academic career spent much of his life in Australia. > "My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are grey. My beloved father has passed away. " — Queen Mary (GB News) The royal household's statement provided context on the family's history and the recent events leading to the announcement.