Prince Frederik of Luxembourg died at age 22 after his battle with POLG Mitochondrial disease, a rare genetic disorder that affects how cells produce energy. His father, Prince Robert—the first cousin of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg—announced his death on Instagram on March 8. “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,” 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.” The young prince died surrounded by loved ones, asking his father, “Papa, are you proud of me?” Robert wrote that his son had trouble speaking for several days beforehand, “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.” Prince Robert explained that his son was born with the rare illness but was only disnosed at 14. POLG Mitochondrial disease “robs the body’s cells of energy, in turn causing progressive multiple organ dysfunction and failure,” according to The POLG Foundation.
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