Dutch Prince Friso dies after skiing accident in 2012

Dutch Prince Friso, the younger brother of King Willem-Alexander, died on Monday, 18 months after suffering a brain injury in an avalanche while skiing in Austria, the palace said. “His Majesty the King announces with great regret that this morning His Highness Prince Johan Friso… died at the age of 44 at Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague,” a palace statement said. “Prince Friso died as a result of oxygen deprivation during his skiing accident on February 17, 2012,” the statement said. The prince has “only minimal consciousness” and his condition is unchanged, the palace said. Friso was injured while off-piste skiing in the Austrian Alps in February 2012. He was an experienced skier but still ventured off-piste with a friend when the avalanche danger was at four on a scale of one to five. His friend was unharmed, but Friso lay under the snow for about 20 minutes before rescue workers pulled him out. Friso was transferred in July from a hospital in London, where he lived, to the residence of his mother, former Queen Beatrix, in The Hague. Despite Friso’s ill health, his death was unexpected. His wife Mabel tweeted her thanks for birthday greetings just hours before the announcement, having turned 45 on Sunday. State broadcaster NOS showed archive footage of the prince as a child and as a young man after his death was announced, while messages of condolence poured in. Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who was due to end his vacation early and return to the Netherlands on Tuesday, said that “this news is a shock despite everything.” “Prince Friso remains in our memories as a man of versatile interests who always put his multifaceted talents at the service of society,” Rutte said in a statement. He sent his condolences to Friso’s widow and children, as well as his mother Beatrix. “Losing a child is the worst thing that can happen to a parent,” Rutte said. The mayor of the Austrian resort of Lech, where Friso was swept away by the avalanche, expressed his condolences. “As someone who, like many Lech residents, knew the prince since his childhood, I am personally shocked and deeply moved,” Ludwig Muxel told the Austria Press Agency. “My deepest sympathy and that of all the people of Lech goes out to Princess Mabel, her children, Princess Beatrix, King Willem-Alexander and all their relatives.” Despite last year’s tragedy, the Dutch royal family again spent their skiing holiday in Lech in February. Beatrix abdicated on April 30 in favor of her eldest son Willem-Alexander, becoming Princess Beatrix. “The royal family would like to thank everyone who looked after Prince Friso for their excellent and devoted care,” the statement said. In 2004, Prince Friso married Mabel Wisse Smit, giving up his claim to the throne as well as his position in the royal house, after it emerged that his future wife had concealed details of her past relationship with a Dutch drug lord. The prime minister at the time refused to ask parliament for permission to approve the marriage, as is required for royals under Dutch law. At the time, Prince Friso was fourth in line to the throne. Johan Friso was allowed to keep his title as Prince of Orange-Nassau, but took the decision with humor, as he had always referred to himself as the “reserve pretender to the throne.” The couple had two children. It was not immediately known whether Friso would be buried in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft outside The Hague, where most members of the royal House of Orange are laid to rest.