Prince Frederik von Luxembourg loses the fight against rare disease

Exactly a week ago, on the occasion of the world's day of rare diseases, the « Luxembourg word » published it Interview with Prince Robert of Luxembourgin which the cousin of Grand Duke Henri Freiast spoke about the rare illness of his youngest son Frederik (22) and reported on the jointly founded foundation, which has been committed to researching the insidious mitochondria mutation. Just that day, fate should take a sad turn, as has now become known. About the Polg-Foundation website the family shared the following moving news with the public:

“With a heavy heart, my wife and I would like to inform you about the death of our son, the founder and creative director of the Polg Foundation, Frederik.

Last Friday, February 28th, on the day of rare diseases, our beloved son called us to his room to speak to him one last time. Frederik found the strength and courage to say goodbye to each of us one after the other – by his brother Alexander, his sister Charlotte, me, his three cousins ​​Charly, Louis and Donall, his brother -in -law Mansour and finally by his aunt Charlotte and his uncle Mark. He had already told his extraordinary mother, who had not given him off his side for 15 years, everything that was on his heart. After he had said goodbye to each of us with a friendly, wise or educational farewell greeting, he left us all with a last family joke. Even in his last moments, his humor and limitless sympathy forced him to leave us with a last laugh … to cheer us all.

Frederik's last question for me was before his other statements: 'Papa, are you proud of me?' He had hardly been able to speak for a few days, and so the clarity of these words was as surprising as the weight of the moment was profound. The answer was very simple and he had heard it so often …, but at that moment he needed confirmation that in his short and beautiful life he had done everything he could and that he could finally go on.

Frederik knows that he is my superhero, as he is for our whole family and for so many good friends, and now, for the most part thanks to his Polg Foundation, for so many people around the world. Part of his superpower was his ability to inspire and go with a good example.

Frederik was born with a special ability to positivity, joy and determination. When he was small, I always said when there is a child of us, which I never have to worry about, then he is. He has social skills like no other, an amazing sense of humor, emotional intelligence and compassion that knows no limits, a sense of justice, fairness and decency. He was disciplined and organized over all dimensions. On Friday, the alarm scored for its Italian duolingo and his exercises like on any other day …, but this was not a normal day. It was his last in this world … and the day of rare diseases, a day that was launched to raise awareness of people who live with one of these neglected diseases, and of course for their families and valuable supervisors.

Like his siblings and almost everyone who has ever met him, « Frederik is the strongest person we know! ' Frederik fought bravely against his illness until the end. His overwhelming lust for life drove him through the hardest physical and mental challenges. Our happy Frederik saw the beautiful in everything.

His brother Alexander tells that Frederik, when he was recently in the hospital because of pneumonia and another serious infection, could not move and could no longer move or photograph himself to photograph the setting sun. Alexander, who was understandably influenced by the bad circumstances, found the sight of the roofs dipped in a warm light. But for Frederik it was magical! Through the small, barred window, he saw the Eiffel Tower glitter with its hourly light dance. He found it so nice that he wanted to share it with all his friends. Charlotte reminds me that the sun has shone into the room every day since Frederik's death and warmed the bed in which it last lay.

On his cell phone he had saved many wise reminders on himself, one of them was: 'Go outside when the sun is shining.'

We will strive to follow his instructions, especially now that everything feels a little colder and darker in its absence. « 

Prince Frederik died on March 1, 2025 in Paris. Read the full statement of the family here.