Professor John Donaldson has died aged 84

Queen Mary of Denmark has confirmed the death of her father, Professor John Donaldson, in a heartbreaking statement.

Prof Donaldson died in Hobart, Tasmania, at the age of 84, the monarch confirmed.

 

The Danish royal household announced the news on Sunday.

In her heartfelt tribute, the Queen expressed profound sorrow at her loss.

“My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are grey. 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.

Professor John Donaldson

Professor John Donaldson has died in Hobart, Tasmania, at the age of 84

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\u200bQueen Mary of Denmark

Queen Mary of Denmark confirmed the death of her father, Professor John Donaldson, in a heartbreaking statement

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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.

Queen Mary wedding

Queen Mary’s father John Donaldson (right) was present at her wedding with King Frederik X in 2004

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Professor John Donaldson

Queen Mary was able to visit her father in Tanzania last month

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The 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.