Prince Frederik Of Luxembourg Passes Away At 22 After Battling Rare Genetic Disease

Prince Frederik of Luxembourg, the son of Prince Robert and Princess Julie of Nassau, passes away at 22 in Paris. He battled POLG mitochondrial disease, a rare genetic disease.

Prince Frederik of Luxembourg, the son of Prince Robert and Princess Julie of Nassau, passed away at the age of 22 in Paris

Source : Instagram/@polgfoundation

Prince Frederik of Luxembourg, the son of Prince Robert and Princess Julie of Nassau, passed away at the age of 22 in Paris. The prince was battling POLG mitochindrial disease which is a rare genetic disorder. His family confirmed the news on Instagram and the POLG Foundation website. The POLG Foundation is a non profit organisation with a mission to support and accelerate research to find effective treatments and a cure for PolG mitochondrial disorders.

Family’s Statement On Prince Frederik’s Passing

"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." said Prince Robert, Prince Frederik's dad.

Understanding The Rare Condition That Affected Prince Frederik

While announcing the passing of Prince Frederik, Prince Robert gave an insight on the rare disease that his son battled. He revealed that although Frederik was born with POLG Mitochondrial disease, it was not diagnosed until he was 14, when his symptoms became more clear and the condition progressed.

What is POLG disease?

POLG disease is a complex genetic mitochondrial disorder that deplets the body's cells of energy. It leads to failure of multiple organs, including the brain, liver, muscles, nerves, and digestive system. Due to its wide range of symptoms affecting different organ systems, the disease is challenging to diagnose and, unfortunately, has no treatment or cure.