King Willem- Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima return home after Prince’s death

King Willem- Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima were forced to cut their holiday short after the devastating news that Prince Johan Friso had died.

The Dutch king and Queen left Greece and flew straight back to the Netherlands to spend time with their family after learning that his brother had passed away on Monday (12.08.13) following several months spent in a coma.

Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte – who also suspended his holiday – is preparing to meet with the royal family to discuss a time and a place of the Prince’s burial and funeral service.

Prince Friso was struck by an avalanche in February 2012 during a skiing trip and was buried under for 15 minutes, which resulted in him falling into a coma.

A royal palace released a statement on Monday: ”His Majesty the King announces with deep regret that His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso Bernhard Christiaan David, Prins van Oranje-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg passed away this morning at Palace Huis ten Bosch in the Hague at age 44.

”Prince Friso has died of complications related to the hypoxic brain injury, which he suffered as the result of his skiing accident in Lech, Austria on 17 February 2012.

”Following initial treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Innsbruck University Hospital, Prince Friso was transferred in early March 2012 to the Wellington hospital in London, his place of residence.

”In November 2012, Prince Friso begun showing signs of limited awareness (”minimal consciousness”) and remained in that state since then.”

The royal palace also paid tribute to the medical team who looked after the prince, who is said to have suffered ”massive” brain damage after being hit by the avalanche as well as a heart attack lasting 50 minutes.

The statement continued: ”The Royal family wholeheartedly thanks all persons who have looked after Prince Friso for their excellent and devoted care.”

Johan is survived by a wife, Princess Mabel, who reportedly spent her 45th birthday on Sunday (11.08.13) at his bedside, as well as two daughters, Luana, eight, and seven-year-old Zaria.