Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
Prince Frederik of Luxembourg, whose unwavering faith helped sustain him through years of battling a rare genetic condition, died March 1 in Paris, the Grand Ducal Court announced. He was 22.
The prince, who was diagnosed at age 14 with POLG mitochondrial disease, spent his final years building a research foundation to help others with the rare genetic condition. His family and supporters noted that his deep Catholic faith remained a cornerstone of his approach to his illness.
“It is with a very heavy heart that my wife and I would like to inform you of the passing of our son,” Prince Robert wrote in a statement on the POLG Foundation website. The very public, first-hand account, is a rare and truthful glimpse into the final moments of a public figure and family’s grief.
The day before his death – which happened to be Rare Disease Day – Frederik spoke privately with each family member according to a family statement. “Frederik found the strength and courage to say goodbye to each of us in turn,” his father wrote. His brother Alexander came first, then sister Charlotte, followed by his father, three cousins, his brother-in-law Mansour, and finally his Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Mark.
Prince Frederik and his dog, Mushu.
Courtesy: polgfoundation.org
Frederik’s passing marks a particular moment for Luxembourg’s royal family, whose public Catholic devotion sets them apart from Europe’s increasingly secular monarchies. His great-uncle, Grand Duke Henri, notably stood firm on Catholic principles during crucial political decisions, even when facing criticism.
In fact, Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, refused to give his assent to a pro-euthanasia bill passed by the Chamber of Deputies as reported by Metro Voice News. The move was too much for Luzembourg’s liberal political Chamber and in response, it amended the constitution stripping the Duke of the power to approve bills.
The POLG Foundation, which Frederik cofounded in 2022, works to find treatments for mitochondrial disorders. The condition affects roughly one in 5000 people, progressively damaging organs by depriving cells of energy.
Before his final goodbyes, Frederik asked his father a single question: “Papa, are you proud of me?”
He also shared private time with his mother Julia. His father revealed that “He had already spoken all that was in his heart to his extraordinary mother, who had not left his side in 15 years.”
His father stated that his final words included “some kind, some wise, some instructive,” and true to who he was, he left his loved-ones with “a final long-standing family joke.” As creative director of the foundation, Frederik worked to unite researchers and doctors in the search for a cure. That work continues. His father’s statement ended not with memorials, but with a call for volunteers and donations to advance the research Frederik championed.
In Luxembourg, where the royal family has long been a symbol of faith traditions that are disappearing across the rest of Europe, Frederik’s legacy extends beyond medical research—his faith and service remain a defining part of Luxembourg’s royal tradition.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
