Prince Frederik death: Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Princess Julie of Nassau’s youngest son dies aged 22

Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Princess Julie of Nassau’s youngest son, Prince Frederik, has died. He was 22.

According to a statement shared on the POLG Foundation‘s website, written by Robert, Frederik died on March 1 in Paris, France, from POLG Mitochondrial disease, a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive multiple organ dysfunction and failure.

“It is with a very heavy heart that my wife and I would like to inform you of the passing of our son,” the 56-year-old royal, who is the paternal cousin of Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, opened his emotional message.

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On February 28 – also known as Rare Disease Day – Frederik, according to Robert, ”called us in to his room to speak to him for one last time” and “found the strength and the courage to say goodbye to each of us in turn”.

That included his brother, 27-year-old Prince Alexandre, his sister, 29-year-old Princess Charlotte and her 27-year-old husband, Mansour Shakarchi.

Frederik also said his final goodbyes to his father’s sister, Princess Charlotte, her husband Marc Victor Cunningham, and their three children: Charly, Louis, and Donall.

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“He had already spoken all that was in his heart to his extraordinary mother, who had not left his side in 15 years,” Robert wrote of Frederik’s farewell to 58-year-old Julie.

Frederik’s final goodbyes varied from “kind” to “wise” and some were “instructive”, Robert wrote, noting that “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,” Robert wrote.

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Prior to his other goodbye messages, Robert said, Frederik 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.”

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Frederik was born in Aix-en-Provence, France, on March 18, 2002, with POLG Mitochondrial disease, though he was not diagnosed until he was 14 years old.

He, alongside his father, later co-founded the POLG Foundation, with Frederik serving as Creative Director while Robert served as Chair.

“Frederik knows that he is my Superhero, as he is to all of our family, and to so very many good friends,” Robert continued, noting how he “was born with a special capacity for positivity, joy, and determination.”

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“When he was little, I would always say that if there is one child of ours that I would never need to worry about, it was him,” Robert wrote.

Robert noted how Frederik was “particularly headstrong (at times, I might have used the word stubborn)” with an indomitable lust for life propelled him through the hardest of physical and mental challenges.”

“He has social skills like no other, an amazing sense of humour, an emotional intelligence and compassion that were off the charts, a sense of justice, fairness and decency that knows no bounds. He was disciplined and organised beyond belief,” Robert wrote.

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“We wish to extend our deep gratitude for all the messages of support and love received by our family in this very difficult moment,” Robert wrote, before asking those reading the tribute to volunteer with or donate to the POLG Foundation in Frederik’s memory.

“With our Superhero’s help we hope to turn our deep grief into positive results and therewith follow his unwavering example,” he wrote.

“His ultimate message is one of hope, compassion, and resilience! We are all so very proud of you, Frederik. I am so very proud of you! We love you!”

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