"You can hit Alex, but not so hard he gets killed, because then I'd have to be king."
That’s a real quote. A young Prince Johan Friso said it to a documentary crew years ago, and honestly, it basically sums up his entire vibe. He wasn't the guy who wanted the crown. He was the "Prince Brilliant" of the Dutch royal family—the second son of Queen Beatrix who seemed way more interested in aerospace engineering and McKinsey consulting than waving from a balcony.
But then everything changed. First because of a woman, and then because of a mountain.
If you're looking for the typical royal story, this isn't it. Friso was the one who actually walked away. He traded his right to the throne for a woman the government didn't like, only to have his life cut short by a freak accident in the Austrian Alps. It’s a heavy story, but it’s one that still defines how people in the Netherlands think about the "outsider" prince.
The "Mabelgate" Scandal and Giving Up the Throne
Most royals follow a script. You find someone "suitable," the parliament gives a thumbs up, and you live in a palace. Friso didn't do that. In 2003, he announced his engagement to Mabel Wisse Smit.
She was smart, worked for George Soros' Open Society Institute, and the Queen loved her. But there was a catch.
👉 See also: Pat Lalama Journalist Age: Why Experience Still Rules the Newsroom
During the vetting process, some old connections came out. Specifically, Mabel had been "friends" with a notorious Dutch drug lord named Klaas Bruinsma back in her college days. The Dutch government, led by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende at the time, felt the couple hadn't been 100% honest about the depth of that relationship.
The Prime Minister refused to ask Parliament for permission for the marriage. In the Netherlands, if you marry without that permission, you’re out. No more line of succession. No more "Prince of the Netherlands" title.
Prince Johan Friso didn't blink. He chose Mabel.
They got married in 2004 in a relatively quiet ceremony in Delft. He became a "Prince of Orange-Nassau" instead of "of the Netherlands," and they moved to London to live a more or less normal life. He worked as the CFO for Urenco, a uranium enrichment company. He lived in the suburbs. He had two daughters, Luana and Zaria. He was finally just a guy with a job and a family.
That Friday in Lech: The Accident That Changed Everything
Lech, Austria, is where the Dutch royals go every year. It’s tradition. On February 17, 2012, Friso went out skiing with a childhood friend. The avalanche risk was high—a level four out of five.
✨ Don't miss: Why Sexy Pictures of Mariah Carey Are Actually a Masterclass in Branding
They went off-piste.
Around 12:15 PM, a massive wall of snow, roughly 30 by 40 meters, came down. His friend had an avalanche airbag and survived. Friso didn't. He was buried under the snow for about 20 to 25 minutes.
When rescuers finally pulled him out, his heart had stopped. It took 50 minutes of CPR to get a rhythm back. That’s a long time. Too long. The lack of oxygen caused massive, irreversible brain damage.
For 18 months, the world waited. He was moved from Innsbruck to a specialized clinic in London, and eventually back to the Huis ten Bosch palace in The Hague. The royal house kept updates sparse, usually just saying he was in a "minimally conscious state."
He never really woke up. On August 12, 2013, he died from complications related to the brain injury. He was only 44.
🔗 Read more: Lindsay Lohan Leak: What Really Happened with the List and the Scams
Why the Dutch Still Talk About Him
There’s a reason Friso’s memory lingers. He was a bit of a contradiction. He was a high-speed driver (once caught doing 200 km/h) and an off-piste skier, but he was also the "bespectacled" intellectual of the family. He graduated cum laude in both engineering and economics.
He was also the one who stood by his mother, Queen Beatrix, during her darkest hours. When his father, Prince Claus, died in 2002, it was Friso who walked her to her seat, supporting her as she leaned heavily on his arm. That image of the "unshakeable" son stayed with people.
Facts vs. Rumors: Setting the Record Straight
- Was he really "kicked out" of the family? No. He lost his official membership in the "Royal House" (the legal entity), but he remained a member of the "Royal Family." He kept his style of Royal Highness as a personal title.
- Was the marriage scandal the reason for the accident? People love to find "destiny" in tragedy, but it was just a bad decision on a dangerous mountain.
- Could he have been King? Technically, yes, if something had happened to Willem-Alexander before 2004. But by the time of his accident, he had no legal claim to the throne.
Living the "Friso Way": Actionable Lessons
Looking back at the life of Prince Johan Friso, there’s more to take away than just royal trivia. He lived a life of deliberate choices.
If you want to apply a bit of that "Prince Brilliant" mindset to your own life, here’s how to look at it:
- Prioritize What Matters Over Status: Friso proved that even a throne isn't worth as much as the person you love. If you're staying in a "prestigious" situation that makes you miserable, maybe it's time to pull a Friso and choose your own path.
- Education is the Real Safety Net: He knew that being a prince was a precarious job. He got high-level degrees so he could work at places like Goldman Sachs and McKinsey. He didn't rely on his name; he relied on his brain.
- Respect the Mountain: This is the literal lesson. If the avalanche warning is at a 4, don't go off-piste. No amount of experience makes you stronger than a thousand tons of snow.
- Protect Your Privacy: Even at the height of "Mabelgate," Friso and Mabel kept their dignity. They didn't do "tell-all" interviews. They moved to London, put their heads down, and worked.
He wasn't the King, and he didn't want to be. But in choosing a life of his own making, he became one of the most respected members of the House of Orange, even if he had to leave it to find himself.
To dig deeper into the current Dutch royal structure, you can look up the "Act on the Membership of the Royal House," which explains exactly how these titles work today. You might also find the work of the Princess Mabel-led "Girls Not Brides" organization interesting, as she has carried on a legacy of high-impact global work that they both valued.