Prince Friso in Critical Condition Following Skiing Accident: February 17, 2012

[Akilah]

I believe everything will be fine. We must continue to pray for his continued comfort and peace of mind for his loved ones.

[Archduchess Zelia]

That video was very moving, it must be such a horrible time for both of them and it's nice to see that they're standing together. Still praying for Prince Friso to be alright soon.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Viv

It's touching to see the Queen and Princess Mabel together, it speaks volumes about the seriousness of the situation! Protocol has gone out of the window and so has the usual royal habit of keeping the stiff upper lip no matter what! In stead we see two human beings, a wife and a mother caring and comforting one another in the worst hours of their lives! Beatrix and Mabel are unwittingly showing the world what really matters in life!
They know that they are powerless and their true worthiness as human beings shine through!
These few glimpses from Innsbruck will be stored in my inner royal gallery for years to come!
Still hoping that Johan Friso will pull through this ordeal with his faculties intact.

Viv

Couldn't agree more Viv,beautifully said as ever!

[Mermaid1962]

I think that the fact that they were both in black on the visit to the hospital is significant. Perhaps they expected to be in a mourning situation when they left. Queen Beatrix has such a love of colour that it's unusual to see her in black.

[Charlotte_Aster]

Or they are not in the mood to wear something colourful?

[Tilla]

I will pray, too,

[FanofMonaco]

The cold snow may end up to be a blessing. There are many instances of people being underwater for 15-30 minutes, in very cold water, and surviving. Apparently the cold puts them into a coma.

[Alexey 1904]

Good point, Archie1954! I had heard that there was going to be a large screen put outside so fans of WH would be able to watch. But, didn't the Queen allow that at Diana's funeral? Talk about vultures! What those people did to Diana when she was dying was imcomprehensible, I think There are still some websites where pictures of her near dead in the car are accessible. I hope those photo takers leave the Houston family alone now, and the same for the Dutch RF.

[grevinnan]

Originally Posted by Alexey 1904

Good point, Archie1954! I had heard that there was going to be a large screen put outside so fans of WH would be able to watch. But, didn't the Queen allow that at Diana's funeral? Talk about vultures! What those people did to Diana when she was dying was imcomprehensible, I think There are still some websites where pictures of her near dead in the car are accessible. I hope those photo takers leave the Houston family alone now, and the same for the Dutch RF.

The Houston family have said all along that the funeral would be shown live in order for all of her fans to participate. They opted for a "private" as opposed the large event in an arena that the New Jersey officials had offered to do.

[Magdalene]

This is a very serious accident. I am praying.

[Duchess of Durham]

How does one pronounce "Friso"?

Am praying for Prince Friso, Princess Mabel, and HM.

[PrincessKaimi]

It is a very serious and sad situation. There are not *many* examples of people surviving 15 minutes underwater and surviving, there are a handful. And they are mostly children. We are a family of surfers and follow such stories closely - the world's record for holding one's breath under water while deep diving is just under 10 minutes.

Let's pray for a miracle. Once the danger of brain swelling is past, in the next couple of days, they will try to wake him up. They probably already have some idea of what his brain function was when he arrived. The family cannot be having an easy time of it, no matter what. Let's hope the time estimates are a bit off (I doubt anyone had a stop watch) and that he had lots of oxygen in his blood - and that perhaps he took some action to put himself in a better position within the avalanche (we know nothing about the degree of snow pack or weight of the snow - but the news that his skull is perhaps not fractured is good news).

I am really feeling for Mabel tonight, as the stress of not knowing his actual mental condition must be tremendous. They may be facing some very difficult decisions as well, and it's very good that the brothers are there so constantly. Family is indeed everything when tragedy strikes.

God bless them and let us all truly pray for a miraculous recovery here.

[ashelen]

I can't get over! i am waiting here to read some good news about P Friso! I ccan not imagine for whatare going throught nd his little girls!

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Viv

It's touching to see the Queen and Princess Mabel together, it speaks volumes about the seriousness of the situation! Protocol has gone out of the window and so has the usual royal habit of keeping the stiff upper lip no matter what! In stead we see two human beings, a wife and a mother caring and comforting one another in the worst hours of their lives! Beatrix and Mabel are unwittingly showing the world what really matters in life!
They know that they are powerless and their true worthiness as human beings shine through!
These few glimpses from Innsbruck will be stored in my inner royal gallery for years to come!
Still hoping that Johan Friso will pull through this ordeal with his faculties intact.

Viv

Beautifully put Viv!True to the core.

HM allowed this glimpse into her personal grief knowing her country is in full support of Her and the family in this tragic situation and wishes to see her,hold her,put an arm around her,give her a shoulder to cry on,support her in any possible way,encourage her,anything to comfort her and Princess Mabel and the children.In these moments they've come,again,to the core of life:love and loyalty,and it is not beneath them to show the world.

[gerry]

Originally Posted by Duchess of Durham

How does one pronounce "Friso"?

Am praying for Prince Friso, Princess Mabel, and HM.

Thanks for asking, "Friso" is pronounced FREEZE-SO. Let's hope all our prayers get him and his family through this.

[Tarlita]

Is Friso a Ducth name, and does it have any special meaning?

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Tarlita

Is Friso a Ducth name, and does it have any special meaning?

It is and it also refers to the young Stadtholder Johan Friso who died in an accident and drowned.He was the Heir to the King Stadtholder Willem III,a distant cousin of the Frisian Nassaus.

I do believe I've known the name Friso in both Germany and Belgium too
it being a germanic name.

[XeniaCasaraghi]

He is Mabel's wife. I hope he makes it through for the sake of his mother, Mabel and all the people of the Netherlands; special thoughts with those on here who are so worried about him.

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by XeniaCasaraghi

He is Mabel's wife.

He's Mabel's husband, Mabel is Johan Friso's wife?

[Marengo]

I must say that I am quite surprised of the intensity & amount of interest of the Dutch media & public. the prince is virtually unknown, and most people only remember that he is the one who is married to Mabel. But like others say: the interest is enormous and it seems that everybody is talking about it. It looks as if the prime minister was surprised by it too: he now cancels his holidays while two days ago he was reacting agitated and said that it wasn't as if the Queen or the crownprince were involved in the accident.

I am also quite surprised that the RVD is placing pictures of HM and princess Mabel arriving/leaving the hospital on their website considering the efforts they made to implement the media code.

According to Marc van der Linden Mabel's mother has arrived in Austria as well, it must be hard on her too, esp. since at a relatively young age she lost her 1st husband (Mabel's father) in an iceskating accident (let's hope that that will not be the case now).

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According to the Volkskrant HM and princess Mabel have just arrived in the hospital in Innsbruck:
Liveblog - Oostenrijkse media: 'Drain in hoofd Friso' - Prins Johan Friso bedolven onder lawine - VK
In the mean time Prince WA and prince Constantijn took countesses Zaria and Luana skiing. I believe that Princess Laurentien & children only arrived yesterday (as the original plan was).

According to the Krone Zeitung, the ski partner of the prince was Florian Moosburger. He is the hotel manager of Hotel Moosburger where the family is staying. He must be a grandson of Irma Moosburger, who was a good friend of Queen Juliana.

The NRC reports that they expect an update from the RVD about the situation this afternoon.
Waarschijnlijk vandaag update over de toestand van Friso :: nrc.nl

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NRC Handelsblad has been critisized about the article of Jannetje Koelewijn.
Elsevier.nl - Cultuur & Televisie - Felle kritiek op berichtgeving NRC Handelsblad over Friso

The editor has defended the article and the tactics used by the journalist. Apprently neurosurgeon Kees Tulleken (Jannetje's husband) violated his professional oath and if the RF decides to sue him this matter will have serious consequences for him as he is expected to lose the case (if there is one).
'Tulleken schond beroepsgeheim' - Binnenland | Het laatste nieuws uit Nederland leest u op Telegraaf.nl [binnenland]

Tulleken himself doesn't understand the upheaval: he says that he didn't reveal secrets ánd he adds that Mabel was his 'buurmeisje' (girl who lives in the house next door) and as a child used to play with his son (why this makes it any different puzzles me though).