Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein

Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (Alois Philipp Maria; born 11 June 1968), is the eldest son of Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein, and Countess Marie Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau. Alois has been regent of Liechtenstein (Stellvertreter des Fürsten) since 15 August 2004. He is married to Duchess Sophie in Bavaria.[1]

Not to be confused with Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein.

Alois
Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein
Regent of Liechtenstein
Regency15 August 2004 – present
MonarchHans-Adam II
Prime Ministers
Born (1968-06-11) 11 June 1968
Zürich, Switzerland
Spouse
Issue
Detail
Full name
Alois Philipp Maria
HouseLiechtenstein
FatherHans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
MotherMarie Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau
ReligionRoman Catholic
Signature
Princely family of Liechtenstein

HSH The Prince
HSH The Princess

Life and career
Former Prime Minister of Liechtenstein Klaus Tschütscher (on the right) receiving a government contract from Alois in 2009

Alois attended the Liechtenstein Grammar School in Ebenholz (Vaduz) and then the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. He served in the Coldstream Guards in Hong Kong and London for six months before entering the University of Salzburg, from which he earned a master's degree in jurisprudence in 1993.[1]

Until 1996, Alois worked at a firm of chartered accountants in London. In May of that year, he returned to Vaduz and became active in managing his father's finances.[1]

In a constitutional referendum in 2003, Hans-Adam II retained his sweeping powers (the right to veto laws and elect judges).[2] 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.[1]

On 27 November 2005, Liechtenstein voters rejected an initiative that would prohibit abortion and birth control in the principality. Instead, a government-sponsored counter proposal was ratified. The pro-life initiative was supported by Roman Catholic Archbishop Wolfgang Haas. Alois was initially sympathetic to the pro-life proposal, but he became neutral during the run-up to the vote.[3]

In 2011, Alois threatened to exercise his princely veto if voters approved a forthcoming referendum to legalize abortion in the principality.[4] Such a veto was not necessary, as the voters rejected the proposal.[5]

Following the prince's threat, an initiative called "Damit deine Stimme zählt" ("So that your voice counts") was launched to change the constitution of Liechtenstein to prevent the prince from vetoing legislation approved in referenda. The referendum was held on 1 July 2012, and 76% of voters upheld the prince's power to veto referendum results.[6]

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:[1]

  • Prince Joseph Wenzel Maximilian Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born 24 May 1995 at Portland Hospital in London)
  • Princess Marie-Caroline Elisabeth Immaculata of Liechtenstein, Countess of Rietberg (born 17 October 1996 in Grabs, Canton of St. Gallen)
  • 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)

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles
  • 11 June 1968 – 13 November 1989: His Serene Highness Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg
  • 13 November 1989 – present: His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg

Honours
See also: List of honours of the Liechtensteiner princely family by country

National honours

Foreign honours

Others honours

Ancestry

References
  1. "Hereditary Prince Alois". Fuerstenhaus.li. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  2. Liechtenstein prince wins powers BBC News Online, 16 March 2003. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
  3. Rosenbaum, Harry (28 November 2005). "Voters defeat restrictive initiative". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  4. Jordans, Frank (8 September 2011). "Liechtenstein prince threatens to veto referendum". Associated Press. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  5. Zeldin, Wendy (27 September 2011). "Liechtenstein: No to Legalized Abortion". Global Legal Monitor. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  6. "Liechtenstein, 1. Juli 2012 : Vermindertes Vetorecht des Fürsten" (in German). Sudd.ch. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  7. Coronation of Willem Alexander of the Netherlands
  8. Parliamentary question, page=1381
  9. eliechtensteinensia
  10. Vanitatis
  11. Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein
Born: 11 June 1968
Liechtensteiner royalty
Preceded by
Hans-Adam II		 Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein
13 November 1989 – present		 Incumbent
Heir:
Prince Joseph Wenzel
Lines of succession
First Line of succession to the Liechtensteiner throne Succeeded by
Prince Joseph Wenzel
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