Alois, Hereditary Prince and Regent of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (Alois Philipp Maria; born 11 June 1968), is the eldest son of
Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Hans-Adam II (Johannes Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marco d'Aviano Pius; born 14 February 1945) is the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein, since 1989. He is the son of Prince Franz Joseph II and his wife, Countess Georgina von Wilczek. He a ...
, and
Countess Marie Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau. The heir apparent to the throne of
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: link=no, Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarch ...
, Alois has also been
regent
A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...
of the country (') since 15 August 2004. He is married to
Duchess Sophie in Bavaria.
Life and career
Alois attended the Liechtenstein Grammar School in
Ebenholz (Vaduz) and then the
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. He served in the
Coldstream Guards
The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army. As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the monarchy; due to this, it often participates in state ceremonia ...
in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...
and
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
for six months before entering the
University of Salzburg
The University of Salzburg (german: Universität Salzburg), also known as the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (''Paris-Lodron-Universität Salzburg'', PLUS), is an Austrian public university in Salzburg municipality, Salzburg state, named af ...
, from which he earned a
master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. in
jurisprudence
Jurisprudence, or legal theory, is the theoretical study of the propriety of law. Scholars of jurisprudence seek to explain the nature of law in its most general form and they also seek to achieve a deeper understanding of legal reasoning a ...
in 1993.
Until 1996, Alois worked at a firm of chartered accountants in London. In May of that year, he returned to
Vaduz
Vaduz ( or , High Alemannic pronunciation: [])Hans Stricker, Toni Banzer, Herbert Hilbe: ''Liechtensteiner Namenbuch. Die Orts- und Flurnamen des Fürstentums Liechtenstein.'' Band 2: ''Die Namen der Gemeinden Triesenberg, Vaduz, Schaan.'' Hrsg. ...
and became active in managing the princely families' finances.
In the
2003 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum regarding the Prince’s powers was held in Liechtenstein on 14 March 2003. The referendum had two questions: a "Princely Initiative" and a "Constitution Peace Initiative".Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Electi ...
, Hans-Adam II retained his sweeping powers (the right to
veto
A veto is a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action. In the most typical case, a president or monarch vetoes a bill to stop it from becoming law. In many countries, veto powers are established in the country's constitution. Veto ...
laws and elect judges). On Liechtenstein Day in 2004, Hans-Adam II formally turned the power of making day-to-day governmental decisions over to Alois, preparing for the transition to a new generation. Hans-Adam II remains
head of state
A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...
.
On 27 November 2005, Liechtenstein voters
rejected an initiative that would prohibit abortion and birth control in the principality. The initiative was supported by
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
* Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
Archbishop
Wolfgang Haas
Wolfgang Haas (born 7 August 1948) is a Liechtenstein-born prelate of the Catholic Church who has been the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of Vaduz in Liechtenstein since 1998. He was Bishop of Chur in Switzerland from 1990 to 1997, after t ...
. Alois was initially sympathetic to the proposal, but he became neutral during the run-up to the vote. Instead, a government-sponsored counter proposal was ratified.
In 2011, Alois threatened to exercise his princely veto if voters approved a forthcoming
referendum to legalize abortion in the principality. Such a veto was not necessary, as the voters rejected the proposal.
Following the prince's threat, an initiative called "'" ("So that your voice counts") was launched to change the
constitution of Liechtenstein
The Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: Verfassung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein) was promulgated on 5 October 1921, replacing the 1862 constitution. It was granted by Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein, and established t ...
to prevent the prince from vetoing legislation approved in referendums.
The referendum was held on 1 July 2012, and 76% of voters upheld the prince's power to veto referendum results.
Marriage and children
On 3 July 1993 at
St. Florin's Cathedral in Vaduz, Alois married
Duchess Sophie in Bavaria, now also Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein and Countess of Rietberg.
They have four children:
*
Prince ''Joseph Wenzel'' Maximilian Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born 24 May 1995 at the
Portland Hospital
The Portland Hospital for Women and Children is a private maternity hospital on Great Portland Street, City of Westminster, London, England, owned by the Hospital Corporation of America.
History
The Portland was conceived by Barry Lewis, a ...
in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
)
* Princess ''Marie-Caroline'' Elisabeth Immaculata of Liechtenstein, Countess of Rietberg (born 17 October 1996 in
Grabs,
Canton of St. Gallen
The canton of St. Gallen, also canton of St Gall (german: link=no, Kanton St. Gallen ; rm, Chantun Son Gagl; french: Canton de Saint-Gall; it, Canton San Gallo), is a canton of Switzerland. The capital is St. Gallen.
Located in northeastern ...
)
* Prince ''Georg'' Antonius Constantin Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born 20 April 1999 in Grabs, Canton of St. Gallen)
* Prince ''Nikolaus'' Sebastian Alexander Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born 6 December 2000 in Grabs, Canton of St. Gallen)
Honours
National
* :
Grand Star of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein.
Foreign
* :
Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria (08/06/2000).
* :
Recipient of the King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal (30/04/2013).
* :
Recipient of the King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal for the 70th Birthday (30/04/2016).
* :
Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi – civilian special class – (16/09/2011).
Sovereign Military Order of Malta
/ref>
See also
* List of current heirs apparent
This is the list of current heirs apparent to the thrones of the world as of .
List of heirs apparent
In federal monarchies Malaysia
United Arab Emirates
Current sovereign monarchs without an heir apparent
Current federal monarchs witho ...
References
External links
*
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alois Of Liechtenstein, Hereditary Prince
1968 births
20th-century Roman Catholics
21st-century Roman Catholics
Coldstream Guards officers
Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Heirs apparent
Liechtenstein Roman Catholics
Living people
Princes of Liechtenstein
Regents
University of Salzburg alumni
Recipients of the Grand Decoration with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria
Recipients of the Order pro Merito Melitensi