Dutch mourn Prince Friso with restraint; sympathize with family

By The Associated Press

AMSTERDAM – The Dutch mourned the death of Prince Friso on Tuesday by placing flowers outside the royal palace, a discreet show of sorrow fitting for a man who avoided publicity and surrendered his place in the line of succession to marry his wife.

Friso died Monday at age 44, of complications from a skiing accident in early 2012 that left his brain badly damaged. He never regained more than minimal consciousness.

He is survived by his wife, Princess Mabel, and two school-age daughters.

Well-wishers signed condolence registers and left flowers outside Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, where members of the royal family have gathered to grieve.

Friso, the second son of former Queen Beatrix, gave up any claim to the throne in order to marry Mabel Wisse Smit in 2004. The couple decided to forgo seeking the parliamentary approval necessary for a royal marriage after the pair failed to disclose details of Smit’s friendship with a drug lord years earlier.

The Royal House said Tuesday Friso’s burial will take place “in private” on Friday, Aug. 16, in the city of Baarn, Netherlands — not in the family tomb of the Netherlands’ ruling House of Orange in Delft.

Although no longer officially a member of the Royal House, Friso did remain part of the royal family, as younger brother to King Willem-Alexander.

The Royal House said that a “memorial ceremony” for Friso would take place later this year.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today