On February 27, 2012, His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje attended the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Java Sea held at the Kloosterkerk in Den Haag. Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands was to attend the event; however, she decided to stay by her son, Prince Johan Friso, side at Innsbruck University Hospital.  As a result, Prince Willem-Alexander replaced the Queen during today’s celebrations.

The Battle of the Java Sea began on February 27, 1942, in which the Allied Forces — Dutch Navy , American Navy and Australian Royal Navy — fought against the Japanese forces.  Over 2,300 men lost their lives.  Click here for more information and here.

During today’s event Prince Willem-Alexander met with survivors from the battle as well as listened to music by the Dutch Royal Navy Marine Band.  According to the website for the Dutch royal family today’s ceremony was :

…organized by the Royal Netherlands Navy Karel Doorman and the Foundation Fund. The Fund was established in 1944 to provide financial support to (former) soldiers of the Royal Navy and their survivors, who by war or service conditions have become financially dependent.

Click the links below to watch a video as well as to view photos.

• VIDEO (in Dutch)
• VIDEO (in Dutch)
• Gallery One 
• Gallery Two

Source: Het Koninklijk Huis

On February 24, 2012, it was announced that His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso of Oranje-Nassau has “… permanent brain damage and may never regain consciousness…” notes Wolfgang Koller, head of ICU and Trauma Center, during a press conference at Innsbruck University Hospital in Innsbruck, Austria.

As you may know by now, Prince Johan Friso was struck by an avalanche on Friday, February, 17, 2012 in Lech, Austria.  The second son of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and the late Prince Claus was buried alive for — what has now been confirmed — 25 minutes.  The search and rescue team who found Prince Johan Friso tried desperately for 50 minutes to resuscitate the Prince.  They succeeded; however, because the Prince Johan Friso lacked oxygen for 25 minutes his brain was permanently damaged.

At this time, the Dutch royal family are looking for a rehabilitation center for His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso of Oranje- Nassau in, what many believe, the Netherlands.

Click here to watch a video from the press conference.

My thoughts as well as prayers go out to Prince Johan Friso, Princess Mabel, their children, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and the entire Dutch royal family.

Source: NOS

It was announced by RVD (the Dutch government information service) that Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will extend her stay in Lech, Austria to remain by His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso of Oranje-Nassau’s side.  As you know by now, the Prince is in a coma at Innsbruck University Hospital.

As a result of the Queen’s extended stay she has cancelled all of her official appointments for next week.  RVD also announced that His Royal Highness Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje will represent Her Majesty during the “…70th anniversary commemoration of the Battle in the Java Sea…” on February 27, 2012.   Afterward, the heir to the Dutch throne will return to Lech, Austria to be with the rest of the royal family.

Source: Radio Netherlands via RVD

On Wednesday, February, 22, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands along with Princess Mabel were at the Innsbruck University Hospital to visit Prince Johan Friso of Oranje-Nassau who is still in a coma.

Today, the Dutch royal house announced that Prince Johan Friso’s condition:

…remains unchanged.  It is stable, but he is still not out of danger.  The doctors attending the Prince will issue a statement giving a full prognosis as soon as they are able. That is not yet the case as of today.

Click here to watch a video. 

Source: Het Koninklijk Huis

The Telegraph newspaper reports that His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso of Oranje-Nassau is “in a coma” and unfortunately the medical team treating the prince will not know until the end of the week whether he “will live or die”.

Click here to read the article from the Telegraph 

Meanwhile, the prince’s skiing companion, Florian Moosbrugger, who survived the avalanche — thanks to an airbag tucked into his backpack — will be questioned by the Innsbruck police in the coming days.  In an interview with the Austrian Times newspaper, detective Heinz Rusch stated, “We have begun investigations into the companion. It is concerning unintentional grievous bodily harm in particularly dangerous circumstances.”   

Click here to read the full article from the Austrian Times 

Sources: Telegraph and Austrian Times

His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso of Oranje-Nassau remains at the Innsbruck University Hospital’s intensive care and trauma unit after being buried by an avalanche on February 17, 2012.

As of today the second son of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and the late Prince Claus remains in “stable” condition; however, the Dutch royal court made it clear that Prince Johan Friso is still “not out of danger.”   The medical team treating the prince stated that they, “…will not be able to give a full prognosis of his condition until the end of this week.”   

Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Prince Johan Friso’s wife, Princess Mabel and their children remain in Austria and continue to visit the prince every day.  Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince Maxima and their family along with Their Royal Highnesses Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien and their family are also in Austria.

Finally, after receiving a tremendous amount messages of support and prayers from people all over the world the Dutch royal court released a statement today:

The members of the royal family are sincerely grateful and deeply touched by all the messages of support and kindness they have received since Prince Friso’s skiing accident. They are a great support to them at this difficult time.

Click here to watch the latest video news from NOS.

Source: RVD/HKH

His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso of Oranje-Nassau is in stable condition after being buried alive by an avalanche whilst on a skiing holiday in Lech, Austria on February 17, 2012.

The Austrian Press Agency is reporting that the second son of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands was struck by the avalanche “measuring about 30m wide by 40m long” shortly after 12pm.  The prince was buried in the snow for roughly 15-20 minutes before a search and rescue team found him.  After resuscitation Prince Johan Friso was taken to Innsbruck University Hospital via helicopter.

During an emergency a press conference, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated, “The prince is stable but not out of danger, and we await more information. Austria has excellent medical care and we have great faith in it.”

Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and Prince Johan Friso’s wife, Princess Mabel, are currently at Innsbruck University Hospital.  Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, Princess Maxima, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien are flying to Innsbruck to be by the prince’s side.

According to AFP news, “Doctors treating Prince Friso note that a prognosis will only be possible in a few days…”

For more information as well as video updates please click here  here, and here. (in Dutch)

Sources: AFP, Associated Press, BBC News, and NOS.