At Age 22, Prince Frederik Passes Away: After A Health Battle Luxembourg Royal With A Rare Genetic Condition Dies
Prince Robert of Luxembourg has revealed the untimely death of Prince Frederik, his youngest son, who was 22 years old.
According to the cousin of Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, whose unexpected abdication last year put an end to a magnificent 24-year reign, his son passed away on March 1 after a protracted fight with POLG Mitochondrial Disease, a rare genetic disorder.
In a long, poignant comment, he expressed his sorrow over the news on the POLG foundation, a website his son started that is devoted to discovering a cure and efficient therapies for mitochondrial illnesses caused by POLG.
According to the foundation, POLG sickness is a rare genetic condition that deprives the body’s cells of energy, leading to gradual failure and dysfunction of many organs.
In addition to the intestines, muscles, and swallowing abilities, the disorder can progress to the point where several organs, including the liver and brain, fail.
Although Prince Frederik, who lived in Switzerland, had the illness from birth, his symptoms weren’t officially diagnosed until he was 14 years old.
Prince Robert, 69, and his wife, Princess Julie of Nassau, 64, wrote a heartfelt message detailing their son’s tragic final moments. The statement included a final farewell to his parents and two brothers, Prince Alexandre of Nassau, 27, and Princess Charlotte of Nassau, 29.
The statement read: “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.”
In a moving statement, he noted that his beloved son departed on Rare Disease Day, a unique celebration observed on the final day of February, and pledged to increase knowledge and support research on rare diseases.
“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” wrote Robert.
“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.”
With the sound of his regular exercise alarm, Robert claims that what started out as “any normal day” turned into a startling tragedy because it was to “be his last in this world.”
He bemoaned his son’s battle with the illness, which he said Frederik bravely endured.
“This is the battle that Frederik fought, and this is the burden that he had to carry throughout his life” , penned Prince Robert.
“He always did so with grace and with humour. When we asked him if he wanted to create a foundation to find a cure and help others like him, he jumped at the opportunity.”
“Though he always made it very clear that he did not want this dreadful disease to define him, he nonetheless immediately identified with and helped define the mission of The POLG Foundation.”
In addition, Robert commended his son’s “emotional intelligence and compassion that were off the charts” and his “amazing sense of humor.”
“A sense of justice, fairness and decency that knows no bounds” he continued. “He was disciplined and organised beyond belief.”
The fact that his son was the “strongest person” his family and friends had ever met was arguably one of his favorite recollections of him.
Born in Aix-en-Provence, France, Prince Frederick of Nassau lived briefly in London, England, before relocating to Switzerland in 2004.
The former pupil went to St. George’s School in Clarens, Ecole Eden Primary School, and the International School in Geneva.
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, 69, announced his unexpected departure from the throne in favor of his son Guillaume in December. His father, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, is his first cousin.
On October 3, 2025, Guillaume, 43, who had already taken up a lot of his father’s responsibilities as Lieutenant-Representant in previous months, will formally begin his new position.
With his abdication, Henri becomes the second European king or queen to abdicate this year.
His regal connection After 52 years, Queen Margrethe of Denmark made the decision to abdicate her throne, allowing her son Frederik to succeed her as King on January 14.
Grand Duke Henri, the eldest of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte’s five children, ascended to the throne in 2000 following his father’s abdication after 36 years in power.
The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Maria Teresa Mestre, is his spouse. & Prince Guillaume, Princess Alexandra, Prince Louis, Prince Félix, and Prince Sébastien are the couple’s five children together.
