GOODBYE SWEET PRINCE

His father has hailed him “a superhero” – not only to his family, but to people the world over who were touched by his courage and resilience. Prince Frederik, the youngest child of Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Princess Julie of Nassau, died recently from POLG mitochondrial disease, a rare genetic disorder that ravages the body and ultimately causes the organs to shut down.

Frederik was just 22, but he left a lasting legacy in the form of the POLG Foundation, an organisation he founded to promote research to find a cure for the degenerative disease.

A grief-stricken Robert announced his son’s death on the POLG Foundation website and paid a moving tribute to his beloved boy.

“It is with a very heavy heart that my wife and I would like to inform you of the passing of our son,” he said.

“Part of his superpower was his ability to inspire and to lead by example. Frederik was born with a special capacity for positivity, joy and determination.”

It’s believed the young royal, who has two older siblings, Princess Charlotte (29) and Prince Alexandre (27), died in a hospital in Paris.

Robert also shared that Frederik, sensing his time was short, called family members into his room to speak to him one last time in the days leading up to his death.

“He found the strength and courage to say goodbye to each of us in turn – his brother, his sister, me, his three cousins, his brother-in-law and his aunt and his uncle.

“He had already spoken all that was in his heart to his extraordinary mother, who had not left his side in 15 years,” Robert added, referring to his 58-yearold American-born wife.

“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.”

The heartbroken dad said his son had asked him one final question, even though he struggled to speak.