Queen Margrethe II and mortality in Danish women.

All-cause mortality in women is declining in all western European countries, apart from in Danish women. All-cause mortality in Danish women, age-adjusted to 45-74 years was compared with all-cause mortality in women in Scotland and with the mean of the other countries of the European Union for 1970-96. The decline of all-cause mortality in Danish women stopped in 1978 whereas the decline continued in Scotland. In 1996, all-cause mortality was 48% higher in Denmark than that of the mean for the European Union countries. Many Danish women are smokers. Halting of the decline in mortality occurred about 5 years after the ascension to the throne of Denmark by Queen Margrethe II. The queen is very popular in Denmark and a known cigarette smoker. As a role model for women, the Queen's example could offer an explanation for the unusual mortality in Danish women.