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 Wchinitz Tettau. The heir apparent to the throne of Liechtenstein, Alois has also been regent of the country (Stellvertreter des Fursten) since 15 August 2004. He is married to Duchess Sophie in Bavaria.

Education and Military Service

Alois attended the Liechtenstein Grammer School in Vaduz-Ebenholz and 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.

Duties

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

Hans-Adam II retained the sweeping powers (the right to veto laws and elect judges) in a Constitutional referendum in 2003.

On Liechtenstein Day in 2004, Hans-Adam II formally turned the power of making day-to-day governmental decisions over to is son, preparing for the transition to a new generation. Hans-Adam remains Head of State.

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 became neutral during the run-up to the vote.

In 2011, Alois threatened to exercise his royal 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, the "Damit deine Stimme zahlt" (" So that your voice counts") initiative was launched to change the constitution 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.

Marriage and Children

On 3 July 1993, at St. Florin's in Vaduz, Alois married Duchess Sophie of Bavaria, now also Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein and Countess Rietberg. They have four children:

-Prince Joseph Wenzel Maximilian Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born 24 May 1995 in London).

-Princess Marie-Caroline Elisabeth Immaculata of Liechtenstein, Countess Rietberg (born 17 October 1996 in Grabs, Canton of Gallen).

-Prince Georg Antonius Constantin Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born 20 April 1999 in Grabs)

-Prince Nikolaus Sebastian Alexander Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born 6 December 2000 in Grabs)

National Day/ Open Castle

The Prince hosts an open day at his castle on 15 August every year where guests are treated to local drinks, delicacies, and the opportunity to meet and mingle with the Princely Family itself. Later that night the castle is lit up by an elaborate projection system and a world class fireworks display and street fair goes on late into the night.

Titles, Styles and Honors

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 Prince Regent of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg

National Honors

-Liechtenstein: Grand Star of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein

Foreign Honors

-Austria: Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria (2000)

-Thailand: King Bhumibol Adulyadej Diamond Jubilee Medal (12/06/2006)

-Netherlands: King Willem-Alexander I of The Netherlands Investiture Medal (04/30/2013)

-Sweden: Recipient of the 70th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (04/30/2016)

Other Honors

-Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi-civilian special class (09/16/2011)

House: Liechtenstein

Religion: Roman Catholic

(https://en.wikipedia.org)