{"id":602645,"date":"2026-04-12T19:45:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T19:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/602645\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T19:45:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T19:45:20","slug":"queen-mary-of-denmarks-father-john-dalgleish-donaldson-dies-aged-84-in-tasmania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/602645\/","title":{"rendered":"Queen Mary of Denmark\u2019s father, John Dalgleish Donaldson, dies aged 84 in Tasmania"},"content":{"rendered":"

The father of Queen Mary of Denmark, John Dalgleish Donaldson, has died aged 84 in Tasmania<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Danish Royal House confirmed the news on Sunday, saying the Hobart-based mathematics professor died in the state\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n

The Queen paid tribute to her father in an emotional statement.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cMy heart is heavy and my thoughts are grey. My beloved father has passed away,\u201d she said in a translated message.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The announcement came after Queen Mary of Denmark and her husband King Frederik X visited Tasmania in March<\/a>, when she last saw her father.<\/p>\n

\"QueenQueen Mary of Denmark and her father John Dalgleish Donaldson Credit: Instagram<\/p>\n

Donaldson was born in Scotland on September 5, 1941, and lived in Tasmania for most of his life.<\/p>\n

He was a respected mathematician who taught at the University of Tasmania for decades.<\/p>\n

Donaldson\u2019s health had been deteriorating in recent years, and he was unable to attend his daughter\u2019s coronation<\/a> in 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is getting to be an elderly gentleman and he is not well enough to take the long trip back to Denmark for a confirmation, but he is with us in our hearts,\u201d the Queen said at the time.<\/p>\n

Mary\u2019s mother, Henrietta Donaldson, died from a heart condition in 1997.<\/p>\n

A private memorial service for Donaldson will be held at a later date, with the family asking for privacy during this time.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Queen Mary fights back tears in emotional end to royal tour<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

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3 min read<\/p>\n

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