Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alois |
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| Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein Count of Rietberg |
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Alois in 2024
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| Regent of Liechtenstein | |||||
| Regency | 15 August 2004 – present | ||||
| Monarch | Hans-Adam II | ||||
| Born | 11 June 1968 Zürich, Switzerland |
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| Spouse |
Duchess Sophie in Bavaria
(m. 1993) |
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| House | Liechtenstein | ||||
| Father | Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein | ||||
| Mother | Countess Marie Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau | ||||
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Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein (born Alois Philipp Maria on June 11, 1968) is the future ruler of the country of Liechtenstein. He is the oldest son of Prince Hans-Adam II and Princess Marie. This makes him the heir apparent, which means he is next in line to become the Prince.
Since August 15, 2004, Prince Alois has been the regent of Liechtenstein. This means he handles the day-to-day duties of running the country. However, his father, Prince Hans-Adam II, is still the official head of state. Alois is married to Duchess Sophie in Bavaria.
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Early Life and Education
Prince Alois grew up in Liechtenstein and attended school in Vaduz, the capital city. After finishing his early education, he went to the famous Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom.
He served for six months in the Coldstream Guards, a part of the British Army, in Hong Kong and London. After his military service, he studied at the University of Salzburg in Austria. In 1993, he earned a master's degree in jurisprudence, which is the study of law.
For a few years, he worked for a company in London. In 1996, he moved back to Vaduz to help manage his family's finances.
Role as Hereditary Prince
In 2004, Prince Hans-Adam II gave his son, Prince Alois, the power to act as regent. This was similar to what his own father, Prince Franz Joseph II, had done for him in 1984. As regent, Prince Alois has the power to make important decisions for the country.
The Prince's Powers
In 2003, the people of Liechtenstein voted on changes to the country's constitution. These changes gave the prince more powers, including the right to veto laws. A veto is the power to stop a new law from being passed, even if other people have voted for it. The voters approved these changes.
In 2012, another vote, called a referendum, was held. Some people wanted to change the constitution to stop the prince from being able to veto laws that were approved by voters. However, 76% of the voters decided to keep the prince's veto power.
Recent Views
In 2022, Prince Alois said that allowing same-sex marriage was "not a major problem" for the country. In a speech in August 2024, he showed his support for Liechtenstein joining the International Monetary Fund, an organization that helps countries with their economies.
Family Wealth and Art
When Prince Alois becomes the ruling Prince, he will inherit a large and valuable art collection. Many of these artworks are shown to the public at the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna, Austria.
The princely family's wealth is managed by the Prince of Liechtenstein Foundation. This foundation takes care of the family's castles, art, and museums. It also provides money for each family member and covers the costs of the royal court. This means that these expenses are not paid for by the country's taxpayers.
Marriage and Children
On July 3, 1993, Prince Alois married Duchess Sophie in Bavaria. Their wedding took place at St. Florin's Cathedral in Vaduz. Together, they have four children:
- Prince Joseph Wenzel, born on May 24, 1995. He is the oldest and is next in line to the throne after his father.
- Princess Marie Caroline, born on October 17, 1996. She is engaged to Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer, and their wedding is planned for August 30, 2025.
- Prince Georg, born on April 20, 1999.
- Prince Nikolaus, born on December 6, 2000.
Honours
Prince Alois has received several awards and honours from different countries.
National Honours
Liechtenstein : Grand Star of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein.
Foreign Honours
Austria : Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria.
Netherlands : Recipient of the King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal.
Sweden : Recipient of the King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal for the 70th Birthday.
Sovereign Military Order of Malta : Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi.
Arms
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See also
In Spanish: Luis de Liechtenstein para niños
- List of current heirs apparent
