Princely Family Titles

[Daz_Voz]

Who in the Liechtenstein Princely Family is entitled to the style HSH and to be called Prince/Princess?

On the face of it, it seems to be just about all descendants of Johann I Joseph, which is a pretty big group...

[Blog Real]

I think all family members use the title prince and princess.

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by Daz_Voz

Who in the Liechtenstein Princely Family is entitled to the style HSH and to be called Prince/Princess?

All descendants in male line of Prince Johann I (1760-1836) and wives, through marriages recognized by the reigning princes, are entitled to membership of the Princely House and to be called HSH Prince/Princess of Liechtenstein.

2) The Reigning Prince and all descendants in the male line of Prince Johann I of Liechtenstein (1760-1836), being issue of a recognized marriage, are members by birth. A princess whose membership is by birth does not lose such membership on her marriage. Nonetheless children born of such a marriage do not acquire membership by birth.

3) The consort of the Reigning Prince and the wives of princes are members by marriage, provided the marriage is recognized in accordance with this dynastic statute. Membership acquired through marriage is retained during widowhood. It comes to an end where such widow remarries, unless the Reigning Prince provides otherwise on her request. The same applies on the dissolution of the marriage bond, from the date on which the relevant decision takes effect.

[...]

4) All other members of the House shall bear the title:

Prince of Liechtenstein, Count Rietberg; Princess of Liechtenstein, Countess Rietberg.

5) Members of the House shall be entitled to be addressed as "Serene Highness" and to bear the family coat of arms, as described and reproduced in the Law relating to coats of arms of 30 June 1982 (LGBl 1982 Number 58).


House Laws

Originally Posted by Daz_Voz

which is a pretty big group...

Indeed, it's strange that while for instance the Royal House of Sweden was accused of growing exponentially with only 15 members, there is not the slightest whiff of controversy about the Princely House's membership approaching 200 princes and princesses.

[JR76]

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

Indeed, it's strange that while for instance the Royal House of Sweden was accused of growing exponentially with only 15 members, there is not the slightest whiff of controversy about the Princely House's membership approaching 200 princes and princesses.

It's worth noting that most members of the family have never lived in the principality, are not supported by the public purse in the principality and are in practice no more than glorified members of the Austro-Hungarian nobility.

[Daz_Voz]

Thanks for these comprehensive responses.

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by JR76

It's worth noting that most members of the family have never lived in the principality, are not supported by the public purse in the principality and are in practice no more than glorified members of the Austro-Hungarian nobility.

True. The Belgian Royal Family is a better comparison: There, public financial support was always limited to senior members of the family and has now been limited to the direct line, and most of the lesser royals live and work in other countries, but it has faced the same accusations, at least from royal watchers outside of Belgium, while the Princely House has been spared.

[An Ard Ri]

I had forgotten that females are still debarred from the line of succession to the Liechtensteiner throne,the only European ruling house that still excludes female succession.