Prince Frederik, the youngest son of Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Princess Julie of Nassau, has passed away at the age of 22.
His father shared the heartbreaking news on March 1, revealing that Frederik succumbed to POLG Mitochondrial disease, a rare genetic condition. The announcement was posted on the website of the POLG Foundation, an organization Frederik himself established in hopes of advancing treatments and finding a cure for the illness and on Instagram.
The post read: “Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Princess Julie of Nassau have shared the heartbreaking news through their PolG Foundation that their youngest son, Prince Frederik of Nassau (born March 18, 2002), has tragically passed away.”
“Prince Frederik was suffering with PolG-related mitochondrial disease.”
“In a deeply moving statement, the couple said:”
“It is with a very heavy heart that my wife and I would like to inform you of the passing of our son, The POLG Foundation Founder and Creative Director, Frederik.”
“Last Friday, February 28th, on “Rare Disease Day”, our beloved son called us in to his room to speak to him for one last time. Frederik found the strength and the courage to say goodbye to each of us in turn – his brother, Alexander; his sister, Charlotte; me; his three cousins, Charly, Louis, and Donall; his brother-in-law, Mansour; and finally, his Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Mark. He had already spoken all that was in his heart to his extraordinary mother, who had not left his side in 15 years. After gifting each of us with our farewells – some kind, some wise, some instructive – in true Frederik fashion, he left us collectively with a final long-standing family joke. Even in his last moments, his humour, and his boundless compassion, compelled him to leave us with one last laugh….to cheer us all up.”
Frederik was born with POLG Mitochondrial disease, though his family was unaware of it at the time.
He was eventually diagnosed at the age of 14 when his symptoms became more apparent and the progression of the disease had significantly advanced.
Per Polg Foundation “Once considered rare, mitochondrial disease is now believed to affect 1 in 5000 people, rendering it the second most commonly diagnosed, serious genetic disease after cystic fibrosis.”
POLG disease is a rare genetic disorder that deprives the body’s cells of energy, leading to progressive organ dysfunction and eventual failure. It can be likened to a faulty battery that never fully recharges, continuously draining until it can no longer function as described by the Polg Foundation.
The symptoms,” most often include ophthalmoplegia, muscle weakness, epilepsy and liver failure. Because PolG disease causes such a wide range of symptoms and affects so many different organ systems, it is very difficult to diagnose and treat.”
Luxembourg’s royal family, officially known as the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg, is the ruling dynasty of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. They belong to the House of Nassau-Weilburg, a branch of the House of Bourbon-Parma.
