Queen Mary’s father John Donaldson dies at 84

The Danish Royal House announced on Tuesday that Queen Mary’s father, Professor John Dalgleish Donaldson, has died in Hobart, Tasmania, at the age of 84.

In a statement, the royal family said Donaldson had been in declining health due to his age. “It is with great sorrow that Her Majesty the Queen announces the death of her father,” the statement read.

Queen Mary last visited her father in March during a state visit to Australia and Tasmania, where she spent private time with him in Hobart. The royal household released a photo taken by the queen during that visit, showing Donaldson in his later years.

In a personal message, Queen Mary said: “My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are dark. My beloved father has passed away. But I know that when the sorrow fades, the memories will shine through—and what will remain strongest is the love and gratitude for everything he gave me and taught me.”

The family has decided to hold a private memorial ceremony at a later date. The Danish Royal House has also opened a digital condolence platform on its website, allowing the public to send messages, handwritten notes, drawings, or photos to the queen.

Donaldson, a mathematician and academic, was born in Scotland and later settled in Australia, where he worked as a professor at the University of Tasmania.