Tragic Loss of Prince Frederik: A Father’s Heartfelt Tribute to His 22-Year-Old Superhero Battling a Rare Genetic Disorder

Prince Frederik, the youngest offspring of Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Princess Julie of Nassau, has passed away. He was 22 years old.

Frederik succumbed on March 1 due to the rare genetic ailment known as POLG Mitochondrial disease, a fact his father shared in an emotional announcement on the site for the POLG Foundation, an organization established by Frederik to assist in discovering therapies and a remedy for the condition.

“With a very heavy heart, my wife and I wish to inform you of our son’s demise,” Robert, 56, began his extensive statement.

Revealing that Frederik “summoned us to his room to converse one final time” on what was recognized as “Rare Disease Day” on Feb. 28, the royal elaborated that his son “gathered the strength and bravery to bid farewell to each of us individually — his brother, Alexander; his sister, Charlotte; myself; his three cousins, Charly, Louis, and Donall; his brother-in-law, Mansour; and ultimately, his Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Mark.”

“He had conveyed all that was in his heart to his remarkable mother, who had remained by his side for 15 years,” Robert continued, referring to his wife Julie, 58.

According to Robert, Prince Frederik offered varied farewells, “some kind, some wise, some instructive,” and, “in true Frederik style, he left us collectively with a final, long-standing family jest.”

“Even in his final moments, his humor and boundless kindness compelled him to leave us with one last giggle, to uplift us all,” the proud father continued.

Following this, Prince Robert shared that his “beloved son” posed a final inquiry “just before his other remarks” prior to his passing: “Papa, are you proud of me?”

“He had struggled to speak for several days, so the clarity of these words was both astonishing and profoundly significant. The answer was incredibly easy, and he had heard it countless times, but in that moment, he sought assurance that he had contributed all he could during his brief and beautiful life, and that he could now finally move forward,” Robert expressed.

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“Frederik is aware that he is my Superhero, just as he is to our entire family, and to so many wonderful friends,” Robert also noted in his statement, further emphasizing that his son “was endowed with a unique ability for positivity, joy, and determination.”

“When he was young, I would always remark that if there was one child of ours whom I would never need to worry about, it was him,” he added. “He possessed social skills like no other, an exceptional sense of humor, emotional intelligence and compassion that were unmatched, as well as a sense of justice, fairness, and decency that knew no limits. He was impressively disciplined and organized.”

Robert then remarked that Frederik was “particularly strong-willed (at times, I might have described him as stubborn).”

“As his siblings and anyone who ever met him would say, ‘Frederik is the strongest individual we know!’ ” the royal continued. “Frederik battled his disease bravely until the very end. His relentless zest for life carried him through the toughest physical and mental challenges.”

Frederik was born with POLG Mitochondrial disease, as his father noted, although his family was unaware at the time.

He was diagnosed at the age of 14, “when his symptoms began to manifest more clearly and when the progression of his illness had become more pronounced.”

The ailment, as described by the POLG Foundation, “is a genetic mitochondrial disorder that depletes the body’s cells of energy, leading to progressive dysfunction and failure of multiple organs (brain, nerves, liver, intestines, muscles, swallowing, and ocular function, etc.).”

Although Robert characterized Frederik’s condition as a “burden he had to bear throughout his life,” the royal, who is the first cousin of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, stated that his son always approached challenges “with grace and humor” and that he was immensely proud of the contributions he made through the POLG Foundation.

Robert urged those reading the tribute to contribute or volunteer with the organization in memory of his young son.