Put that out, Grandma! Defiant smoker Queen Margrethe of Denmark raises eyebrows after lighting up while walking with Crown Princess Mary's young children

  • Denmark's Queen Margrethe, 75, is a longtime smoker
  • The Queen has been criticised in the past for her public smoking habit
  • Raised eyebrows last week for smoking so close to her grandchildren
  • 2001 study linked Queen's habit with rate of female deaths due to smoking 
  • Royal family have long dismissed pressure for Queen to quit

She has been dubbed 'the Ashtray Queen' by some, and labelled a 'fatal role model' by others.

Yet Denmark's Queen Margrethe defiantly continues her beloved smoking habit, despite years of criticism.

But the 75-year-old monarch raised eyebrows last week when she was pictured puffing away on a cigarette while holding her young grandchildren's hands during a photocall at the royal family's summer residence Gråsten Palace.

Too close for comfort? Denmark's Queen Margrethe was pictured smoking a cigarette while walking with her grandchildren last week 

Too close for comfort? Denmark's Queen Margrethe was pictured smoking a cigarette while walking with her grandchildren last week 

Habit: The Queen is a longtime smoker and has defied ongoing criticism for smoking publicly

Habit: The Queen is a longtime smoker and has defied ongoing criticism for smoking publicly

The Queen has kept her smoking habit a more private affair in recent years after facing continuous backlash for lighting up in public.

But it was in full view of photographers as the royal family walked through the palace gardens ahead of their annual portrait.

The Queen's proximity to her half-Australian grandchildren didn't appear to cause any alarm with her son Crown Prince Frederik or daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary.

Crown Princess Mary appeared undisturbed by the Queen's proximity to her children while puffing away

Crown Princess Mary appeared undisturbed by the Queen's proximity to her children while puffing away

Family outing: The royal family were pictured during their annual family portrait at the summer residence, Gråsten Palace

Family outing: The royal family were pictured during their annual family portrait at the summer residence, Gråsten Palace

Crown Prince Frederik is also reported to be a smoker, but keeps the habit out of the public eye. 

Queen Margrethe held eight-year-old Princess Isabella's hand and walked alongside four-year-old Prince Vincent.

The Danish royal has come under fire repeatedly for her longtime habit, but she has never bent to pressure and when questioned on whether she would ever quit, has replied: 'I have no problem'.

The criticism has almost always come from outside of Denmark.

Queen Margrethe, pictured in 1997, has always dismissed criticism of her habit

Queen Margrethe, pictured in 1997, has always dismissed criticism of her habit

In 2001 a study by Professor Hugo Kesteloot appeared to blame Queen Margrethe (pictured left in 1986, and right in 2002) for the rate of female deaths due to smoking in Denmark
In 2001 a study by Professor Hugo Kesteloot appeared to blame Queen Margrethe (pictured left in 1986, and right in 2002) for the rate of female deaths due to smoking in Denmark

In 2001 a study by Professor Hugo Kesteloot appeared to blame Queen Margrethe (pictured left in 1986, and right in 2002) for the rate of female deaths due to smoking in Denmark

A Swedish newspaper was outraged when the Queen smoked during a visit to asthmatic residents of a nursing home during a royal visit. 

In 2001 a study by Professor Hugo Kesteloot appeared to blame Queen Margrethe's popularity for the rate of female deaths due to smoking in Denmark.

But the royal family were immovable. Her husband Prince Henrik, an ex-smoker himself, said at the time: 'We must not be impressed or influenced by political correctness. Let people die from smoking if they want. It's their business.' 

 

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