While many of Europe’s royal families are celebrating many happy anniversaries this year, the same is not the case for the Dutch Royal Family. On 17 February, it will be ten years since the Dutch Royal Family was struck by a sudden and tragic accident.
Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau was the son of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands and thus the younger brother of the current Dutch monarch, King Willem-Alexander.
On 17 February 2012, while skiing in Lech, Austria, Prince Friso was buried under an avalanche while on a private holiday with his family. The Prince was buried by the snow for 25 minutes; CPR was done for 50-minutes to treat his cardiac arrest. He was then taken to a hospital in Innsbruck.
The Royal Information Service said that the evaluation of Prince Friso would take several days. They said that he was “stable, but critical.”
Two days later, the Dutch Royal Family issued a statement saying: “The Royal Family is very grateful and deeply touched by all expressions of support and sympathy after the ski accident of His Royal Highness Prince Friso. It was a great support for them during this difficult time.”
The days went by, and it remained unclear whether the Prince would ever regain full consciousness. On 1 March 2012, Prince Friso was transferred to the Wellington Hospital in London, where he lived with his family. By November, Friso was showing some signs of consciousness; however, there were still uncertainties on when he would awaken.
Prince Friso was moved back to Huis ten Bosch Palace in the Netherlands on 9 July 2013, and it was thought he had a minimally conscious state at this time. No longer needing to be under hospital care, Friso stayed with his family.
Sadly, Prince Friso died on 12 August 2013 in Huis ten Bosch Palace from complications from his accident a year prior.
His private funeral was held at the Stulpkerk Church, and his burial took place on 16 August in the Dutch Reformed Cemetery in Lage Vuursche near Drakesteijn Castle – a special place for the Prince as it is where he spent his childhood.
The funeral was closed to the public and media. Only one foreign royal was in attendance – King Harald of Norway, who was Friso’s godfather.
Later, a memorial ceremony was held in November in the Oude Kerk in Delft.
Prince Friso was survived by his wife, Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau, and their two daughters, Countess Luana of Orange-Nassau and Countess Zaria of Oranien-Nassau.
