Liechtenstein Changes Royal Succession Rules to Allow Female Heirs

Liechtenstein has officially altered its royal succession rules, a significant move that now permits women to inherit the throne. The announcement was made on the central European country's national day, marking a transition from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture.

Under the new system, the first-born child, irrespective of gender, will be designated as the heir to the throne and subsequently become the Prince or Princess of Liechtenstein. This change, however, will not impact the current line of succession. Hereditary Prince Alois, the eldest son of the current ruler Prince Hans-Adam II, remains the heir. The new rule will only apply to the descendants of Alois and his wife, Hereditary Princess Sophie.

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The order of succession is being changed from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture. This means that in future the first-born child, regardless of sex, will become heir to the throne and later princess or prince of Liechtenstein.

Prince Hans-Adam II has been the head of the royal family since 1989, though Hereditary Prince Alois has managed most official royal duties for the past two decades. In a statement, Alois expressed that the change aims to ensure that both the Principality and the Princely House are led by the individual best prepared for the responsibility. This reform aligns Liechtenstein with other European monarchies that have updated their succession laws, such as Britain, which introduced similar changes in 2011 to allow first-born daughters to inherit the throne.

Liechtenstein, a small, doubly landlocked country situated between Switzerland and Austria, grants its ruler considerable political powers, distinguishing it from many other European monarchs. The reform reflects a modernizing approach to royal lineage within the principality.

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With this change in the law, we want to ensure that both the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Princely House are led by the person who has been best prepared for this responsibility.