Queen Mary confirms father's death in heartbreaking statement

My beloved father has passed away, Queen Mary said.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.Queen Mary shared the announcement through the Danish royal family's official Instagram account, accompanied by a black and white photograph she had taken of her father on March 23, 2026.The academic spent much of his life in Australia, and his death comes just weeks after his daughter and her husband, King Frederik X, completed an official visit to the nation.Denmark's royal house confirmed Prof Donaldson's health has been declining over the past few years.Royal officials had previously said that the retired academic was too frail to undertake long-haul journeys to Denmark.Queen Mary visited her father in late March, following the conclusion of the six-day state visit she undertook with King Frederik.LATEST ROYAL NEWSLocals fume at 'inconsiderate' Pippa Middleton and billionaire husband after closure at estateQueen continued 'fashion precedent' pioneered by a Tudor monarchPrince Harry and Meghan Markle's Australia tour could be 'blueprint for return to UK,' insider claimsThe pair shared precious time together during the trip, the Danish royal house said.The Donaldson family has confirmed that a private memorial service will take place at a later date.Born in Scotland on 5 September 1941, Mr Donaldson pursued a distinguished career as a Professor of Applied Mathematics.He relocated to Tasmania with his first wife, Henrietta Clark Horne, in November 1963, where their youngest daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was born in Hobart in 1972.Queen Mary is the youngest of four children born to Prof Donaldson and his wife Henrietta, who served as executive assistant to the vice-chancellor of the University of Tasmania before her death in 1997.The Queen has two elder sisters, Jane Stephens and Patricia Bailey, as well as an older brother, John Stuart Donaldson.Though raised primarily in Australia, the future Danish monarch began her education at Clear Lake City Elementary School in Houston, Texas, while her father worked at the Johnson Space Center.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter