King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark have secretly travelled
to Australia for a private memorial service for the Queen’s late
father, Professor John Donaldson.
The Danish Royal House confirmed on Wednesday that the King and
Queen are attending the private service in Hobart, Tasmania,
following their journey from Denmark.
A brief entry was added to the official royal diary confirming
that “The King and Queen attend a private memorial service for the
Queen’s father, Mr. John Donaldson, in Hobart, Tasmania.”
The visit had not been publicly announced in advance, with
reports of the couple’s absence from Denmark emerging after their
20-year-old son, Crown Prince Christian, was expected to act as
regent.
Professor Donaldson died in Hobart on 11 April 2026 at the age
of 84. He was born in Scotland in 1941 and emigrated to Australia
with his family in 1963, later becoming a professor of applied
mathematics.
Queen Mary, who was born and raised in Tasmania, had spent time
with her father during the King and Queen’s state visit to
Australia in March.
Following his death, the Queen described her father as “beloved”
and spoke of her love and gratitude for everything he had given her
and taught her.
Donaldson was a significant figure in his daughter’s life and
was among the family members who supported her as she began her new
life in Denmark. He also played a prominent role at her wedding to
then-Crown Prince Frederik in Copenhagen in May 2004, walking his
daughter down the aisle.
Donaldson’s first wife, Henrietta, died in 1997 following
complications from heart surgery. He later married British author
Susan Moody in 2001. He and Moody subsequently spent time living in
Denmark before returning to Australia.
The memorial service in Hobart comes several months after
Donaldson’s death and follows the royal couple’s recent attendance
at the state funeral of King Harald V of Norway.
Crown Prince Christian is expected to undertake the role of
regent during his parents’ absence from Denmark.
