‘Illness’ forces Queen Mary of Denmark to cancel appearance last-minute at Danish Heart Association awards

Queen Mary of Denmark has sent her apologies to disappointed young attendees of an awards event in Copenhagen after sickness forced her to stay home.

The 53-year-old royal was scheduled to present the main prize at the Danish Heart Association’s 2025 awards ceremony on Wednesday but a last-minute announcement from the palace saw a change of plans.

Mary had come down with a cold and had to pull out of the event, much to the disappointment of guests, many of them children.

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The ceremony was held without Mary at the Hotel d’Angleterre in Copenhagen, one of the city’s most famous landmarks, and around the corner from the city’s iconic colourful Nyhavn canal – a major tourist spot.

The palaces of Amalienborg, where Queen Mary and King Frederik live, are a short walk away but despite the proximity, the royal had to sit out the awards ceremony.

Mary is patron of the Danish Heart Association, a role she has held for many years and one that is very personal.

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Her late mother, Henrietta, died on November 20, 1997, following complications from heart surgery. Mary was just 25.

Mary has thrown her support behind the organisation for most of her royal career, so the decision to cancel her appearance on Wednesday afternoon would not have been taken lightly.

But it seems even royalty are not immune from the common cold.

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The palace issued a brief statement soon before the awards were due to take place, confirming the Queen would not be present.

“Her Majesty the Queen has, like many others right now, fallen ill, and therefore unfortunately cannot attend the Danish Heart Association’s award ceremony,” it said.

However, Mary didn’t miss out altogether.

The hotel ensured a bouquet of flowers, which were due to be presented to Mary, were sent to her at Frederik VIII’s Palace, her home at Amalienborg, along with two hand-painted drawings from children who had been chosen to meet the royal.

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Mary later shared a personal message on the Danish Royal Family’s social media account, thanking the children and apologising for not being able to attend.

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness,” Queen Mary wrote.

“What a lovely surprise to receive this bouquet and drawings, even though illness prevented me from attending the Heart Association’s event ‘Together for the Heart’.

“I had looked forward to presenting the Heart Award together with the children Alma and Ellen and to meeting some of the young people living with heart disease.

“Hopefully we can meet again.”

The Queen then congratulated recipients of the awards.

“Thank you and to all those who make a difference in the field of the heart every day.”

Late last week, Mary joined two of her close friends to attend the Danish Warmblood Stallion Certification in Herning.

On Friday, Mary is scheduled to attend an event with The Mary Foundation at the University of Copenhagen.

Frederik and Mary are due to travel to France for the fifth state visit since the change of throne later this month.

They will be there from March 31 until through April 2.

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