Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein
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, and Countess Marie Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau. The heir apparent to the throne of Liechtenstein, Alois has also been regent of the country since 15 August 2004. He is married to Duchess Sophie of Bavaria, who is a member of the House of Wittelsbach, and second in line for the Jacobite succession.
Life and Family
Alois attended the Liechtenstein Grammer 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.
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 the princely families' finances.
In the 2003 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum, Hans-Adam II retained his sweeping powers (the right to veto laws and elect judges). On Liechtenstein Day in 2004, Hans-Adam II formally turned the power of making day-to-day governmental generations.
Hans-Adam II remains head of state.
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 Archbishop Wolfgang Haas. 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 "Damit deine Stimme zahlt" ("So that your voice counts") was launched to change the constitution of Liechtenstein 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.
On 11 August 2022, Prince Alois said that same-sex marriage is "not a major problem."
Marriage and Issue
On 3 July 1993 at St. Florin's Cathedral in Vaduz, Alois married Duchess Sophie of 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 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)
Honors
National
-Liechtenstein: Grand Star of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein
Foreign
-Austria: Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria (08/06/2000)
-Netherlands: Recipient of the King Willem-Alaxander Inauguration Medal (04/30/2013)
-Sweden: Recipient of the King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal for the 70th Birthday (04/30/2016)
-Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi-civilian special class (09/16/2011)
Titles and Styles
11 June 1968-13 November 1989: His Serene Highness Prince Alois Philipp Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg
13 November 1989-present His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg
15 August 2004: His Serene Highness The Regent of Liechtenstein
