Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein

Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein, Countess of Rietberg (born Duchess Sophie of Bavaria; 28 October 1967) was born a member of the House of Wittelsbach, with the courtesy title of Duchess of Bavaria, and second in line for the Jacobite succession. She is married to Alois, Hereditary Prince and Regent of Liechtenstein.

Early Life and Education

Princess Sophie of Bavaria was born in Munich, the eldest of the five daughters of Prince Max, Duke of Bavaria and Princess Elisabeth, Duchess in Bavaria (née Countess Douglas), as well as a patrilineal great-great-granddaughter of the last King of Bavaria, Ludwig III.

She was born in Munich on 28 October 1967 and baptized as Sophie Elizabeth Marie Gabrielle in the chapel of her family's Kreuth home on 18 November.

Her godparents were her maternal aunt, the Duchess of Marlborough, and Archduchess Gabriela of Austria.

Sophie spent her childhood together with her parents and sisters in Wildbad Kreuth.

From 1978 to 1980, Sophie attended the Girls' Home Primary School of the English Lady in Heiligenstadt. She then moved to the Girls' Secondary Boarding School Hohenburg in Lenggries. Sophie then studied history and English language and literature at the Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt.

Marriage and Children

Sophie married Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein on 3 July 1993 at St. Florin's in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. The couple lived in London from September 1993 until May 1996, and have since then resided in Liechtenstein. 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 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), Prince Nikolaus Sebastian Alexander Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born 6 December 2000, in Grabs).

Illness

At the beginning of 2003, it was made public that Sophie was diagnosed with benign brain tumor, from which she has recovered.

Patronages

At the beginning of 2006, Hereditary Princess founded the Sophie von Liechtenstein Stiftung fur Frau und Kind (Sophie of Liechtenstein Foundation for Woman and Child).

The goal of the Foundation is to give women who unintentionally became pregnant a more positive life perspective for themselves and their child.

Titles, Styles and Honours

Failing the birth of a male heir, the Jacobite claim to the thrones of England, Scotland, Ireland and France will pass to Sophie following the demise of the current holder, her childless uncle Franz, Duke of Bavaria, and of her own father, who has no sons.

Jacobites would then recognized her as "Queen Sophie" in both England and Scotland, without numeration, as neither Kingdom has had a monarch of that name.

Titles

28 October 1967-1973 Her Royal Highness Princess Sophie Elizabeth Marie Gabrielle of Bavaria

1973-3 July 1993 Her Royal Highness Duchess Sophie Elizabeth Marie Gabrielle, Princess of Bavaria

3 July 1993 Her Royal Highness The Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein, Countess of Rietberg, Duchess of Bavaria, Princess of Bavaria

Honors

-Bavaria: Dame of Honor of the Order of Theresa

-Bavaria: Dame of the Order of Saint Elizabeth

-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 Service to the Republic

-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 (April 30 2016)

House: Wittelsbach

Religion: Roman Catholic

(https://en.wikipedia.org)