Prince Frederik, the youngest son of Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Princess Julie of Nassau, raised awareness for the disease that ultimately led to his death at the age of 22 during his final years.
Frederik, who was born with POLG Mitochondrial disease, which the family was unaware of initially, as he was later diagnosed at the age of 14, "when his symptoms were showing more clearly and when the progression of his disease had become more acute," founded the POLG Foundation, an organization that researches the disease and searches for a cure, in 2022. The young prince managed to create an inspiring legacy through his work with the foundation, which his father said would continue in his name while announcing his death on the POLG Foundation's website.
"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 Robert wrote. "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. 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."
The POLG Foundation defines the disease as "a genetic mitochondrial disorder that robs the body’s cells of energy, in turn causing progressive multiple organ (brain, nerves, liver, intestines, muscles, swallowing and ocular function, etc.) dysfunction and failure." Robert said his son always handled the "burden that he had to carry throughout his life" with "grace and with humor," showing pride in his work with the POLG Foundation.
The prince asked for those honoring his son to donate to the POLG Foundation in his memory.