Prince Johan Friso has died

Prince Friso, his wife, Princess Mabel and their daughters.

Prince Johan Friso, Prince of Oranje-Nassau and younger brother of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, has died on Monday, 12th August, 18 months after he was left brain-damaged by an avalanche while skiing in Austria.

The Royal Family's webside published a statement.

"His Majesty the King announces with great regret that this morning His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso Bernhard Christiaan David, Prins van Oranje-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg, died at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, aged 44."

"Prince Friso died from complications as a result of oxygen shortages during his ski accident on 17th February 2012 in Lech, Austria."The Prince had "minimal consciousness" and his condition was unchanged, the palace said. "The royal family warmly thanks all those who looked after prince Friso for their outstanding and dedicated care," the statement said.

Prince Friso was in July transferred from a hospital in London, where he lived in Wellington Hospital since March 2012, to the residence of his mother, former Queen Beatrix, in The Hague. Despite the Prince's ill-health, his death came unexpectedly.

His wife, Princess Mabel, tweeted just hours before the announcement her thanks for birthday messages, after she turned 45 on Sunday.

State broadcaster NOS showed archive footage of the Prince as a child and a young man after his death was announced, as tributes poured in.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who was to end his holiday early and return to the Netherlands on Tuesday, said that "despite everything this news still comes as a shock. Prince Friso remains in our minds as a man with broad interests who always put his multifaceted talents at society's service," Rutte said in a statement.

He sent his condolences to Prince Friso's widow and children, as well as to his mother, Princess Beatrix.

The mayor of the Austrian resort of Lech, where Prince Friso was swept away by the avalanche, expressed his condolences.

"As somebody who, like many Lech residents, had known the prince ever since he was a kid, I am personally shocked and deeply moved," Ludwig Muxel told the Austria Press Agency.

"My utmost sympathy and that of all the people of Lech goes to Princess Mabel, her children, Princess Beatrix, King Willem-Alexander and all their relatives."