The Hague, Feb 20 (IANS): Prince Friso of the Netherlands was still in critical condition after a skiing accident last week, the Dutch government said Sunday.

The 43-year-old prince was buried in an avalanche in Austria Friday, Xinhua reported citing Dutch government information service RVD.

The prince was skiing in Litzen-Zugertobel near Lech. He was freed by a rescue team after 20 minutes, was resuscitated and taken to a hospital in Innsbruck where he was still being treated in the intensive care.

Austrian media said the prince may have suffered brain injury, and that a team of neurosurgical specialists operated on him Saturday.

Friso is the second son of Queen Beatrix and late Prince Claus and the younger brother of Willem-Alexander, heir to the throne.

He is no longer a candidate for the throne after he married Mabel Wisse Smit without permission from the Dutch parliament.

The Dutch royal family owns a holiday house in Lech and goes there regularly for skiing holidays.