The father of Queen Mary of Denmark, John Dalgleish Donaldson, has died aged 84 in Tasmania.

The Danish Royal House confirmed the news on Sunday, saying the Hobart-based mathematics professor died in the state’s capital.

The Queen paid tribute to her father in an emotional statement.

“My heart is heavy and my thoughts are grey. My beloved father has passed away,” she said in a translated message.

“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 announcement came after Queen Mary of Denmark and her husband King Frederik X visited Tasmania in March, when she last saw her father.

Donaldson was born in Scotland on September 5, 1941, and lived in Tasmania for most of his life.

He was a respected mathematician who taught at the University of Tasmania for decades.

Donaldson’s health had been deteriorating in recent years, and he was unable to attend his daughter’s coronation in 2024.

“He 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,” the Queen said at the time.

Mary’s mother, Henrietta Donaldson, died from a heart condition in 1997.

A private memorial service for Donaldson will be held at a later date, with the family asking for privacy during this time.