Hereditary Prince Alois (1968- ), Princess Sophie (1967- ) and Family

Mandy · #1 01-16-2005, 01:54 PM

Arms of Liechtenstein

On August 15th 2004 H.S.H. Prince Hans-Adam II entrusts his son H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois as his representative with the exercise of all sovereign rights pertaining to him, in accordance with the Liechtenstein Constitution.

Hereditary Prince Alois was born in Zurich on 11 June 1968 as the eldest son of Prince Hans Adam II and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein and was christened Alois Philipp Maria. This name was given to the Prince in memory of his great-grandfather, Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, the father of then reigning Prince Franz Josef II.

Prince Alois spent his youth at Vaduz Castle with his parents, siblings, and grandparents. Like his father, he attended primary school in Vaduz-Ebenholz, and he entered the Liechtenstein Gymnasium (high school) in 1979. He graduated in the spring of 1987 (high school diploma type B, with an emphasis on literary history). He subsequently entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst (United Kingdom), where he completed his officer's training.
On receiving his commission as second lieutenant, he served for six months with the Coldstream Guards in Hong Kong and London. In October 1988, Prince Alois enrolled as a student of law at the University of Salzburg. He completed these studies in the spring of 1993 with a master's degree. From September 1993 to May 1996, he worked at a London auditing company. He then moved back to Vaduz, where he is now responsible for various parts of the Princely assets. As the eldest son of the Reigning Prince, Hereditary Prince Alois is designated successor to the throne by the Law on the Princely House. For this reason, he has undergone preparation since early childhood for his future office as Head of State.

He takes part in political discussions and consultations with representatives of the Government and assumes representative duties. On 15 August 1990, on the occasion of the oath of allegiance, Reigning Prince Hans Adam II and Hereditary Prince Alois jointly swore to uphold the Constitution.

On 3 July 1993, Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein married Duchess Sophie in Bavaria.
On 3 July 1993, Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein married Duchess Sophie in Bavaria. They have four children

Prince Joseph Wenzel, born 24 May 1995
Princess Marie Caroline, born 17 October 1996
Prince Georg, born 20 April 1999
Prince Nikolaus, born 6 December 2000.

© Government Spokesperson’s Office • 9490 Vaduz • office@liechtenstein.li

1. Hereditary Prince Alois
2. Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie

Mandy · #2 01-16-2005, 01:58 PM

Duchess Sophie was born in Bavaria on 28 October 1967 in Munich, Bavaria, as the eldest of the five daughters of Duke Max and Duchess Elizabeth. She was christened Sophie Elizabeth Marie Gabrielle and is a direct descendant of the last King of Bavaria. Ludwig III (1845-1921) was her great-great-grandfather.

Hereditary Princess Sophie spent her childhood with her parents and sisters in Wildbad Kreuth, where she also attended the first years of primary school. From 1978 to 1980, she attended the Girls' Primary Boarding School of the English Lady in Heiligenstatt and then transferred to the Girls' Secondary Boarding School Hohenburg in Lenggries.
In 1984, she entered the Adolf Weber Gymnasium (high school) in Munich and graduated in 1988.
After graduating, she stayed in London for a few months, where she attended seminars at the Inchbald School of Interior Design. She was particularly interested in the various styles of interior decorating.
Hereditary Princess Sophie studied history and English language and literature at the Catholic University in Eichstätt.

She married Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein on 3 July 1993. They have four children

Prince Joseph Wenzel, born 24 May 1995
Princess Marie Caroline, born 17 October 1996
Prince Georg, born 20 April 1999
Prince Nikolaus, born 6 December 2000.

Princess Robijn · #3 08-21-2005, 04:38 AM

hello, I have a question, Is Princess Sophie, also a princess of the United Kingdom?? (because I think I read that somewhere)

Warren · #4 08-21-2005, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Princess Robijn

hello, I have a question, Is Princess Sophie, also a Princess of the United Kingdom??

No. Sophie was born a Princess of Bavaria, became a Duchess in Bavaria, and is now Hereditary Princess von und zu Liechtenstein.

The Princess of the UK bit I imagine comes from the Stuart/Jacobite line of succession to the British Throne. The "Representative and heir of King Charles I of England" is today Duke Franz of Bavaria, Head of the House of Wittelsbach. He is unmarried, so the Jacobite claim will pass to his brother, Duke Max in Bavaria. Duke Max has five daughters, the eldest being Princess Sophie, so she will inherit the claim in due course. It will then pass to her and Alois' eldest son, Prince Josef Wenzel, who will one day be the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein as well as the Jacobite claimant to the British Crown.
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Princess Robijn · #5 08-21-2005, 09:07 AM

Hi, what does this mean: "Jacobite claimant to the British Crown" and I've read somewhere that she maybe isn't a princess of UK, but she is a princess of scotland. does anyonde know something about this.

I found the information about scotland at: http://www.defendersofscotland.org/f...succession.htm

Cathérine Bergeyck · #6 08-21-2005, 01:13 PM

Prince Alois, princess Sophie and their children at the national day : 15th of August 2005. (seegerpress)

Cathérine Bergeyck · #7 08-21-2005, 01:16 PM

Seegerpress

Their 4 children :

1 - 2 . prince Joseph Wenzel
3. prince Georg
4. prince Nikolaus Sebastian
5 - 6. princess Marie Caroline

Cathérine Bergeyck · #8 08-21-2005, 01:19 PM

and a few more of the national day, celebrated in Vaduz :

Princess Robijn · #9 08-21-2005, 01:24 PM

very good pictures

Warren · #10 08-22-2005, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Princess Robijn

Hi, what does this mean: "Jacobite claimant to the British Crown" and I've read somewhere that she maybe isn't a princess of UK, but she is a princess of scotland. does anyonde know something about this.

The Jacobites are the supporters of the descendants of Princess Henrietta Anne, a daughter of Charles I (thus sister of Charles II and James II) who were excluded from the British succession. The Act of Settlement barred Roman Catholics from the throne thereby excluding most of the Stuarts. Parliament ruled that the succession should instead pass to James I's granddaughter the Electress Sophia of Hanover (and her descendants), she being the closest Protestant in line to the throne after Queen Anne.

The Jacobites supported James II's son, James Francis Edward ("the Old Pretender") and his son, Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie", "the Young Pretender") in their struggle against the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain. Jacobites consider the Hanovers (and by extension, the Windsors) to be usurpers.

So the exercise of determining who would be the Stuart (aka Jacobite) "legitimate" King of Great Britain today brings us to Duke Franz of Bavaria, his niece Princess/Duchess Sophie, and eventually Prince Josef Wenzel of Liechtenstein.
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Princess Robijn · #11 08-22-2005, 10:21 AM

thank you Warren, now i get it :) :) :)

Princess Robijn · #12 09-06-2005, 01:47 AM

are there some more pictures of HSH princess Marie Caroline

moosey60 · #13 09-14-2005, 10:12 PM

Princess Sophie looks so old these days...she looked a little sad in the pictures of post #5. Her kids are growing up, though! They all looked so young last year.

btsnyder · #14 12-26-2005, 06:16 PM

I was just wondering...since Prince Alois basically married above himself (he's a Serene Highness, Sophie a Royal Highness), does that pose any interesting problems in terms of precedence, seating, etc.? Are they always referred to as His Serene Highness Prince Alois and Her Royal Highness Princess Sophie? Are there any other couples with this situation out there?

Alisa · #15 12-26-2005, 07:36 PM

In reference to their styles you are correct. However when the couple are spoken about generally they are usually referred to as "The Hereditary Couple".

paloma · #16 01-24-2006, 11:56 AM

She DID NOT lose the HRH prefix. She remains HRH because it is higher than HSH. Yes, she married an HSH, but she retains the HRH.

HRH Kerry · #17 01-24-2006, 04:09 PM

Is that really considered marrying beneath? She could have married a commoner. Marrying a hereditary prince to a (2-3)billion dollar fortune ain't exactly slummin' !!!

Warren · #18 01-24-2006, 09:49 PM

In the rules regarding marriages dating back to the Holy Roman Empire this union is 'equal'. As Kerry has said, she is hardly "slumming it" by marrying a Hereditary Prince who is destined to become the reigning sovereign of the only country in the world that bears the ruling family's name.

linda85 · #19 01-24-2006, 10:46 PM

Could someone explain the difference between the Duchess in Bavaria as opposed to the Duchess of Bavaria? Doesn't it have something to do with the younger and older versions of the royal house?
Thanks in advance.
Linda 85

rchainho · #20 01-30-2006, 04:56 PM

it's a stupid question but does the princes of this country have so little events to go? Just the reign family live in the palace? What they do inside the country when they don't have anything to attend? I went there in Liechtenstein last year and some ppl that live there said me that don't go out of the palace any time because of the gossips.