Former Queen Margrethe II of Denmark hospitalized

Former Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has been hospitalized with a blood clot in her thigh and dehydration, which will force her to miss the funeral of her cousin, King Harald V of Norway, the Daily Mail reports.

The 86-year-old Queen Mother was taken to Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet hospital on the evening of Sunday, September 6, after feeling unwell. Doctors found a new blood clot in the hip area and diagnosed mild dehydration. The palace noted that the queen is feeling well, but she will have to spend the whole week in hospital.

Due to hospitalization, Margrethe II will not be able to attend the funeral of King Harald V of Norway, which will take place on Wednesday in Oslo. In her stead, her son, King Frederick X, and Queen Mary will attend the ceremony, as will Crown Prince Christian and Margrethe II's younger sister, Princess Benedicta. It will be the largest gathering of foreign monarchs since the Pope's funeral last year.

Over the past months, Margrethe II has repeatedly had health problems. She suffered a heart attack and balloon angioplasty in May, and two weeks after being discharged she was hospitalized again with a blood clot. Since abdicating the throne two years ago, she has continued to carry out official duties, but to a significantly lesser extent than before.