Prince Friso Has Passed Away

The Dutch Royal Court has just announced that Prince Friso, the second son of Princess Beatrix, has passed away from complications in his health. He was 44.

The Prince has been in a coma for over a year following a skiing accident in Austria in February 2012. He was recently transferred to the Netherlands from London, where he had been receiving treatment.

It has been reported that King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are returning from their Greek holiday immediately.

Prince Friso was born on September 25th, 1968 in Utrecht as Prince Johan Friso Bernhard Christiaan David of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg. He is the second son of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands and the late Claus van Amsberg.

The Prince spent his childhood in the Netherlands with two brothers, King Willem-Alexander and Prince Constantijn. His university education was comprised of a series of engineering studies – mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkley; aeronautical engineering at the Delft University of Technology; and economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

In 2003, Prince Friso’s engagement to Mabel Wisse-Smit was announced. However, as Ms Wisse-Smit had not been completely forthcoming in relating her past relationship with a drug trafficker, Klaas Bruinsma, the Dutch government did not seek parliamentary permission for the marriage to take place. This resulted in Prince Friso losing his place in the line of succession, and also his title ‘Prince of the Netherlands’. The pair married on April 24th, 2004 in Delft.

Following their marriage, Prince Friso and Princess Mabel set up house in London, where they both work. The Prince was URENCO, a uranium enrichment company’s Chief Financial Officer. His had previously worked for international management consultant McKinsey’s Amsterdam branch, Goldman Sachs International, Wolfensohn & Co., and the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development.

Prince Friso leaves behind two daughters, Countess Luana (born in March 2005) and Countess Zaria (born in June 2006), as well as his wife, mother and siblings.

Filed under The Netherlands
Tagged Biography, Death, Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau.

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