Queen Margrethe of Denmark pictured for first time following extensive back surgery

Royal watchers will no doubt have been delighted to see Queen Margrethe looking so well on Sunday, as she reunited with her family for a special occasion. 

It was the monarch's 83rd birthday and she and her sons and their families waved to gathered crowds from the balconies of Christian IX's Palace in Amalienborg, the first time the family has been seen together since the Queen's back surgery in February. 

Queen Margrethe wore a blue skirt suit and a warm smile as she waved. Her hair was neatly pulled back and she accessorised her outfit with blue earrings and a matching brooch. 

Her sons Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim also appeared with their wives and children, separately and alongside the Queen. 

A caption on the Royal family's official Instagram account read: "From the balconies of Christian IX's Palace in Amalienborg, the birthday girl waved with her children, in-laws and grandchildren and proclaimed a nine-fold life for Denmark." 

© Getty

It was a heartening sight for the Danish public, following concern about Her Majesty's health. It was announced in early February that she would need "extensive" back surgery later that month and she recently cancelled several summer engagements in order to continue her rehabilitation process. 

Despite this, her birthday marks the Queen's return to public life. This is also the first time in five years that she has celebrated from Amalienborg's balcony. 

In 2019 and 2022, Her Majesty was staying at Marselisborg Castle in Aarhus, and in 2020 and 2021, the pandemic meant that she celebrated the occasion privately. 

The show of family unity comes after Queen Margrethe's grandchildren not in direct line to the throne were stripped of their titles in January.

 The decision was made last year, coming as a surprise to the Queen's children, and the monarch took the unusual step of publicly apologising for any upset it had caused.

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