RIEF IN THE DANISH ROYAL FAMILY: Mary, Queen of Denmark has spoken of her profound sadness after losing her father, John Dalgleish Donaldson, who passed away at 84 in Tasmania. As tributes pour in, newly shared details about the circumstances surrounding his death are touching many people around the world 😔👇
Queen Mary of Denmark has shared a profoundly moving tribute after the death of her beloved father, Professor John Dalgleish Donaldson, who passed away on 11 April 2026 in Hobart, Tasmania, at the age of 84. The Danish Royal House announced the news on Sunday, describing it as a time of great sadness for the Queen and her family.
i2-prod.mirror.co.uk
In a personal and heartfelt statement, Queen Mary said: “My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are grey. My beloved father has passed away. But I know that when the grief settles, the memories will brighten my day, and what will remain strongest is love and gratitude for everything he gave me and taught me.”
The statement was accompanied by a photo reportedly taken by the Queen herself during her recent private visit to her father at the end of March 2026. That visit, which took place towards the conclusion of the Danish royal couple’s state tour of Australia, allowed Queen Mary and King Frederik X to spend precious, close moments with Professor Donaldson — time that now feels especially poignant.
images.7news.com.au
Royal sources confirm that Professor Donaldson’s health had been gradually declining over the past few years. This deterioration prevented him from travelling to Denmark for several important family milestones, including Queen Mary’s coronation in 2024. Despite his frailty, he remained a quiet but steadfast presence in his daughter’s life, rooted in the family home in Hobart where Mary grew up.
No specific medical cause of death has been publicly disclosed by the Danish Royal House or the family. Official statements have focused instead on the natural progression of his age-related health challenges and the comfort of knowing Queen Mary was able to see him one final time in his hometown. The family will hold a private memorial service in Tasmania at a later date.
Born on 5 September 1941 in Scotland, John Dalgleish Donaldson emigrated to Australia in the early 1960s with his first wife, Henrietta (Etta) Clark Horne. He built a respected academic career as a Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Tasmania, earning his PhD there and dedicating decades to education and research. He and Etta raised four children in Hobart, with Mary — the youngest — born in 1972. After Etta’s death in 1997, John later remarried author Susan Moody.
Even after his daughter’s fairy-tale romance with Crown Prince Frederik at the 2000 Sydney Olympics thrust the family into the global spotlight, Professor Donaldson remained the same grounded, intellectual figure — walking Mary down the aisle at her 2004 wedding in Copenhagen and later receiving the Order of the Dannebrog. He was known for his humility, sharp mind, and deep love for his family.
