Luxembourg’s Prince Frederik has died at the age of 22 from a rare genetic condition, his family has confirmed.
Prince Frederik, the son of Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Princess Julie of Nassau, passed away on March 1 in Paris due to complications from PolG mitochondrial disease.
His father shared the news in a statement on the website of the POLG Foundation, an organisation Frederik founded to advance research into treatments for the rare disorder.
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Prince Robert said his son gathered family members on February 28 for a final conversation, leaving them with “one last laugh” in a moment that captured his enduring sense of humour and compassion.
“Even in his last moments, his humour and boundless compassion compelled him to leave us with one last joke … to cheer us all up,” Prince Robert wrote.
Describing his son as the family’s “superhero,” he praised Frederik’s leadership, emotional intelligence, and unwavering sense of justice.
Frederik was born with PolG mitochondrial disease but was not diagnosed until he was 14, when symptoms became more apparent.
The condition, caused by mutations in the POLG gene, affects multiple organs, including the brain, nerves, muscles, and liver. There is currently no cure.
Frederik previously spoke about his experience with the disease in a film for the POLG Foundation, reflecting on how it altered his aspirations.
“When you’re a kid, you have all these dreams, all these aspirations … I’m not sure I understood all the consequences of PolG when I first got diagnosed,” he said.
“It’s more subtle, where slowly, the world is getting smaller and smaller.”
Prince Robert said his son carried this burden with grace and humour, leaving behind a lasting legacy through his advocacy for research and awareness.