Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies aged 22 after being diagnosed with rare POLG Mitochondrial disease

Prince Frederik of Luxembourg has died aged 22 after being diagnosed with a rare POLG Mitochondrial disease.

The late prince, who is son to Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Princess Julie of Nassau, passed away on 1 March but his death was announced last Friday (7 March) after his father took to the official POLG Foundation’s website to share the sad news.

Speaking of Frederik, who founded the organisation which aims to help find treatments for his rare disease, Robert, wrote: "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.

Prince Frederik of Luxembourg has died age 22 (POLG Foundation)

"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 continued in the lengthy statement: "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."

The grieving father who shares two other children, Prince Alexander and Princess Charlotte with Julie, also shared Frederik’s last question to him, prior to his other remarks which was: "Papa, are you proud of me?"

Frederik was diagnosed with a rare POLG Mitochondrial disease when he was just 14 (POLG Foundation)

Robert went on to share that Frederik 'had barely been able to speak for several days', adding: "So the clarity of these words was as surprising as the weight of the moment was profound.

"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."

Continuing the statement, Robert called his son his 'superhero', adding: "Part of his superpower was his ability to inspire and to lead by example. Frederik was born with a special capacity for positivity, joy, and determination.

"As his siblings and most anyone who ever met him say, 'Frederik is the strongest person that we know!' Frederik fought his disease valiantly until the very end. His indomitable lust for life propelled him through the hardest of physical and mental challenges.

"Our cheery Frederik saw the beauty in everything. "

Further on in the statement, Robert explained a little more about the rare POLG Mitochondrial disease and its symptoms.

Frederik's family have released a touching statement following the tragic loss (POLG Foundation)

"As is the case for 300 million people like Frederik worldwide, these diseases are usually hard to recognise even by physicians, and patients’ families may never know what they are suffering from as they may only be identified very late in their progression," the father wrote.

"Frederik was diagnosed with POLG at the age of 14, when his symptoms were showing more clearly and when the progression of his disease had become more acute. Because POLG disease causes such a wide range of symptoms and affects so many different organ systems, it is very difficult to diagnose and has no treatments much less a cure."

Explaining POLG disease as 'a genetic mitochondrial disorder that robs the body’s cells of energy', Robert noted it, in turn, causes 'progressive multiple organ (brain, nerves, liver, intestines, muscles, swallowing and ocular function, etc.) dysfunction and failure.'

"One might compare it to having a faulty battery that never fully recharges, is in a constant state of depletion and eventually loses power," he added.

Concluding the statement, Robert made sure to praise his son for his positivity in the face of adversity.

"This is the battle that Frederik fought, and this is the burden that he had to carry throughout his life," the father wrote. "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."