Prince Frederik of Luxembourg Dies at 22 After Battling Rare Genetic Disorder

The young royal dedicated his final years to raising awareness and funding research for POLG mitochondrial disease, which he was diagnosed with at 14.

Prince Frederik of Luxembourg passed away on March 1, 2025, at the age of 22, due to complications from POLG mitochondrial disease.
Diagnosed at 14, the rare genetic condition causes progressive organ failure and has no known cure, affecting approximately 1 in 5,000 people.
Frederik co-founded The POLG Foundation, which has raised over $3.6 million for research and funded multiple major projects to combat the disease.
He starred in a short film released in 2024 for Mitochondrial Awareness Week, reflecting on his experiences and the impact of the disease on his life.
Frederik’s father, Prince Robert, described his son as a ‘superhero’ for his tireless advocacy and contributions to medical research and awareness efforts.