Luxembourg’s Prince Frederik has died at the age of 22 after battling a rare illness.
Prince Robert, first cousin of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, announced the news of his son’s death via Instagram, as well as a blog post on The POLG Foundation’s website on Saturday, March 8.
Frederick, who was born with POLG Mitochondrial disease, died surrounded by his family, Robert wrote in the posts.
“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,” Robert wrote on the POLG Foundation’s website.
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“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,” Robert said.
“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,” he added.
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Robert’s post gave insight into his final conversations with Frederik, revealing that his son asked him: “Papa, are you proud of me?”
“He had barely been able to speak for several days, so the clarity of these words was as surprising as the weight of the moment was profound,” Robert wrote. “The answer was very easy, and he had heard it oh so many times…. but at this time, he needed reassurance that he had contributed all that he possibly could in his short and beautiful existence and that he could now finally move on.”
Robert went on to explain that Frederik was born with POLG Mitochondrial disease, “a rare genetic disorder that robs the body’s cells of energy, in turn causing progressive multiple organ dysfunction and failure,” according to Frederik’s website.
However, the young prince didn’t receive a diagnosis until the age of 14.
Frederik went on to create The POLG Foundation three years ago “to support and accelerate research to find effective treatments and a cure for PolG mitochondrial disorders,” the website states.
Prince Robert shared touching family photos of Frederik below his statement, including snapshots of Frederik posing with his brother Alexander and his sister Charlotte, as well as his canine companion, Mushu.
