Hans-Adam_II,_Prince_of_Liechtenstein

Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein

Hans-Adam II (Johannes Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marko d'Aviano Pius von und zu Liechtenstein, styled HSH The Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein; born 14 February 1945, Zurich), is the currently reigning Prince of Liechtenstein and son of Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein (1906-1989) and his wife Countess Georgina von Wilczek (1921-1989). He also bears the titles Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count of Rietberg.

Powers

The Prince of Liechtenstein has sweepingly broad powers; a referendum to adopt Hans-Adam's revision of the constitution to expand his powers passed in 2003. The changes also included a republican option, whereby the Prince was henceforth formally barred from vetoing any bill to establish a republic. In addition, the right to secede for the parishes which make up the Principality was recognized. Prince Hans-Adam had threatened that he and his family would move to Austria if the referendum had failed. Despite opposition from Mario Frick, a former Prime Minister, the Prince's referendum motion was carried by the electorate. Actually, the personal influence of the Ruling Prince is increased by the republican option within the constitution, because, in this strongly pro-monarchy principality, he may more easily use the implied threat to resign as a means to pressure elected representatives and the electorate into accepting measures which he favours.

On 15 August 2004 Prince Hans-Adam II formally turned the power of making day-to-day governmental decisions over to his son Prince Alois, as a way of beginning a transition to a new generation. Formally, Hans-Adam remains Head of State.

Personal wealth

Prince Hans-Adam owns LGT banking group and has a personal fortune of 5 billion dollars. He owns an extensive art collection, which is displayed for the public at the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna, Austria. In December 2006, he was reported to be one of the world's richest heads of state.

Personal life

Hans-Adam's mother tongue is German but he is also fluent in English, French and Italian.

On 30 July 1967, at Vaduz, Liechtenstein, he married his cousin Marie Aglaë, Countess Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau (born 1940) who in connection with the wedding, became Her Serene Highness The Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein .

Their children are:

Hereditary Prince Alois (b. Zürich, 11 June 1968)
Prince Maximilian Nikolaus Maria (b. St Gallen, 16 May 1969)
Prince Constantin Ferdinand Maria (b. St Gallen, 15 March 1972), married 1999 Maria Gräfin Kálnoky von Köröspatak :

Moritz Emanuel Maria (b. New York, 27 May 2003)
Georgina Maximiliana Tatiana Maria (b. Vienna, 23 July 2005)
Benedikt Ferdinand Hubertus Maria (b. Vienna, 18 May 2008

Princess Tatjana Nora Maria (b. St Gallen, 10 April 1973), married 1999 Philipp von Latorff, 5 children

1969 he graduated from the prestigious University of St. Gallen with a degree in Business and Economic Studies.

The Prince is an honorary member of K.D.St.V. Nordgau Prag Stuttgart, a Catholic students' fraternity that is a member of the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen. Prince Hans Adam II chairs the Advisory Council of the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-determination at Princeton University, LISD. In his childhood he joined the Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins in Vaduz.

Today he and his wife are patrons of Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins.