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Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein

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Hans-Adam II
Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf
Count of Rietberg
A photo of Hans-Adam II aged 76
Hans-Adam II in 2021
Prince of Liechtenstein
Reign13 November 1989 – present
PredecessorFranz Joseph II
Heir apparentAlois
RegentAlois (2004–present)
Prime Ministers
See list
Born (1945-02-14) 14 February 1945 (age 79)
Zürich, Switzerland
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1967; died 2021)​
Issue
Names
Johannes Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marco d'Aviano Pius
HouseLiechtenstein
FatherFranz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
MotherCountess Georgina von Wilczek
ReligionRoman Catholic

Hans-Adam II (Johannes Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marco d'Aviano Pius; born 14 February 1945) is the Prince of Liechtenstein. He is the son of Prince Franz Joseph II and his wife, Countess Georgina von Wilczek. He also bears the titles Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, and Count of Rietberg. Under his reign, a 2003 constitutional referendum expanded the powers of the Prince of Liechtenstein. In 2004, Hans-Adam transferred day-to-day governmental duties to his eldest son Hereditary Prince Alois as regent, like his father had granted him in 1984 to prepare him for the role.[1]

Early life

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Photo by Erling Mandelmann, 1974

He was born on 14 February 1945 in Zürich, Switzerland, as the eldest son of Prince Franz Joseph II and Princess Gina of Liechtenstein,[2] with his godfather being Pope Pius XII.[3] His father had succeeded as Prince of Liechtenstein in 1938 upon the death of his childless grand-uncle, Prince Franz I, and Hans-Adam was thus hereditary prince from birth.[4][5]

In 1956, he entered the Schottengymnasium in Vienna. In 1960, he transferred to the Lyceum Alpinium Zuoz in Switzerland, earning a Swiss Matura and a German Abitur in 1965. He then worked as a bank trainee in London before enrolling at the University of St. Gallen to study business administration, graduating with a licentiate in 1969. He is fluent in English and French in addition to his native German.[6]

In 1984, Prince Franz Joseph II, while legally remaining head of state and retaining the title of sovereign prince, formally handed the power of making day-to-day governmental decisions to his eldest son as a way of beginning a dynastic transition to a new generation.[7] Hans-Adam formally succeeded as Prince of Liechtenstein upon the death of his father on 13 November 1989.[8]

Powers

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A referendum to adopt Hans-Adam's revision of the Constitution of Liechtenstein to expand his powers passed in 2003. The prince had threatened to abdicate and leave the country if the referendum did not result in his favour.[9]

On 15 August 2004, Hans-Adam formally handed the power of making day-to-day governmental decisions to his eldest son Hereditary Prince Alois as regent, as a way of beginning a dynastic transition to a new generation. Legally, Hans-Adam remains the head of state.[10] Hans-Adam's father Franz Joseph II had similarly done so on 26 August 1984.[11]

In a July 2012 referendum, the people of Liechtenstein overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to curtail the political power of the princely family. A few days before the vote, Hereditary Prince Alois announced he would veto any relaxing of the ban on abortion, also up for referendum. 76 per cent of those voting in the first referendum supported Alois' power to veto the outcome of future referendums.[12] Legislators, who serve on a part-time basis, rose in the hereditary prince's defence on 23 May, voting 18 to 7 against the citizens' initiative.[13]

Entrepreneurship and personal wealth

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Hans-Adam II led the LGT Bank on an expansion course until his accession to the throne in 1989.

Before his accession to the throne, he transformed LGT Bank which is wholly owned by his family, from a small local bank into an internationally operating financial group. As of 2003 he had a family fortune of US$7.6 billion and a personal fortune of about US$4 billion,[14] making him one of the world's richest heads of state, and Europe's wealthiest monarch.[15]

He inherited his main residence, Vaduz Castle in Liechtenstein, furthermore in Austria Liechtenstein Castle, Wilfersdorf Castle (with a wine farm), the Liechtenstein Garden Palace and the Liechtenstein City Palace in Vienna. In addition to real estate, viticulture, agriculture and forestry, the prince owns a number of companies, the most important being the American company RiceTec.[citation needed]

He also inherited an extensive art collection, much of which is displayed for the public at the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna. As of July 2022, his net worth was estimated by Bloomberg Billionaires Index around US$6.20 billion, making him the 380th richest person on earth.[16] However, he placed these assets in a family foundation, the Prince of Liechtenstein Foundation, from which each family member receives an equal annual allowance and which maintains the family's castles, cultural assets, collections and museums and last but not least, the costs of the princely court including even some salaries for princes who are ambassadors abroad, which are not a burden on the taxpayer.[citation needed]

His successful entrepreneurship allowed him to buy back parts of the family art collection[17] which his father had to sell after World War II due to lack of money after his vast land holdings in Czechoslovakia had been expropriated (measuring 7.5 times the total area of the Principality itself) and after his Austrian properties had become inaccessible until the end of the Soviet occupation in 1955. In addition, he continues to expand the collection of classical paintings and applied arts to this day.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Princely family of Liechtenstein

The Prince

Descendants of Prince Franz Joseph II
Descendants of Prince Aloys
  • Prince Andreas
    Princess Silvia
  • Prince Gregor
  • Princess Maria-Pia
  • Princess Katharina
  • Princess Brigitta

Princess Marie Christine

  • Princess Maria Assunta
  • Princess Isabelle, countess zu Erbach-Fürstenau
  • Prince Christoph
  • Princess Marie Helene
  • Princess Georgina, Countess von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg
  • Princess Michaela

Princess Amalie

  • Princess Maria Elisabeth
  • Prince Hubertus
  • Princess Marie Therese
Extended princely family
  • Prince Gundakar
    Princess Marie
    • Princess Leopoldine
    • Princess Marie Immaculée
    • Prince Johann
      Princess Felicitas
      • Princess Josefine
    • Princess Margarete
    • Prince Gabriel

Princess Josephine

  • Prince Christian
  • Prince Stefan
    Princess Florentine
    • Prince Lukas
    • Prince Konrad
    • Princess Anna
    • Princess Rita
  • Prince Emanuel

On 30 July 1967, at St. Florin's in Vaduz, he married his second cousin once-removed Countess Marie Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau.[18] They have four children and fifteen grandchildren:

  • Alois Philipp Maria, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Regent of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born on 11 June 1968 in Zürich, Canton of Zürich, Switzerland). Married to German Duchess Sophie Elisabeth Marie Gabrielle in Bavaria (born on 28 October 1967) in July 1993. They have four children:
    • Prince Joseph Wenzel Maximilian Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born on 24 May 1995 at Portland Hospital in London, England, United Kingdom).
    • Princess Marie Caroline Elisabeth Immaculata of Liechtenstein, Countess of Rietberg[19] (born on 17 October 1996 in Grabs, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland).
    • Prince Georg Antonius Constantin Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born on 20 April 1999 in Grabs, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland).
    • Prince Nikolaus Sebastian Alexander Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born on 6 December 2000 in Grabs, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland).
  • Prince Maximilian Nikolaus Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born on 16 May 1969 in St. Gallen, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland), known professionally as Max von Liechtenstein.[20] Married to Panamanian-American Angela Gisela Brown (born on 3 February 1958) in January 2000. They have one son:
    • Prince Alfons "Alfonso" Constantin Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg[21] (born on 18 May 2001 in London, England, United Kingdom).
  • Prince Constantin Ferdinand Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born on 15 March 1972 in St. Gallen, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland – died on 5 December 2023), known professionally as Constantin Liechtenstein.[22] Married to Austrian Countess Marie Gabriele Franziska Kálnoky de Kőröspatak (born on 16 July 1975) in May 1999. They have three children:
    • Prince Moritz Emanuel Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born on 27 May 2003 in New York City, New York, United States)
    • Princess Georgina "Gina" Maximiliana Tatiana Maria of Liechtenstein, Countess of Rietberg[23] (born on 23 July 2005 in Vienna, Austria)
    • Prince Benedikt Ferdinand Hubertus Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born on 18 May 2008 in Vienna, Austria)
  • Princess Tatjana Nora Maria of Liechtenstein, Countess of Rietberg (born on 10 April 1973 in St. Gallen, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland), also known after marriage as Tatjana von Lattorff.[24] She graduated from European Business School in Madrid, Spain and is fluent in German, English, French and Spanish.[25][26] Princess Tatjana is a patron of SOS Children's Village Liechtenstein,[24] president of Princess Gina of Liechtenstein Foundation[27] and also president of the board of trustees of Prince Franz Josef of Liechtenstein Foundation.[28] In 2020, she became the president of the Vienna International School Association.[29] Married to German Baron Matthias Claus-Just Carl Philipp von Lattorff (born on 25 March 1968 in Graz, Styria, Austria) on 5 June 1999. Baron Philipp is the eldest son of Baron Claus-Jürgen von Lattorff and Countess Julia Batthyány von Angol-Ujvár.[30] He work for Boehringer Ingelheim as a CEO and is the vice president of Federation of Austrian Industries.[31] They have seven children:
    • Lukas Maria von Lattorff (born on 13 May 2000 in Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany)
    • Elisabeth Maria Angela Tatjana von Lattorff (born on 25 January 2002 in Grabs, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland)
    • Marie Teresa von Lattorff (born on 18 January 2004 in Grabs, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland)
    • Camilla Maria Katharina von Lattorff (born on 4 November 2005 in Monza, Lombardy, Italy)
    • Anna Pia Theresia Maria von Lattorff (born on 3 August 2007 in Goldgeben, Lower Austria, Austria)
    • Sophie Katharina Maria von Lattorff (born on 30 October 2009 in Goldgeben, Lower Austria, Austria)
    • Maximilian Maria von Lattorff (born on 17 December 2011 in Goldgeben, Lower Austria, Austria)

They remained married until her death on 21 August 2021, at the age of 81.

The Prince is an honorary member of K.D.St.V. Nordgau Prag Stuttgart, a Catholic students' fraternity that is a member of the Union of Catholic German Student Fraternities.

The Prince donated $12 million in 2000 to found the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination (LISD) at Princeton University's Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.[32][33] In his childhood he joined the Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins in Vaduz.[34] He is also a former member of the Viennese Scout Group "Wien 16-Schotten".[35] He is a member of the World Scout Foundation.[36]

His younger son Prince Constantin died on 5 December 2023 at the age of 51.[37]

Viewpoints and book

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Hans-Adam has written the political treatise The State in the Third Millennium (ISBN 978-3-905881-04-2), which was published in late 2009. In it, he argues for the continued importance of the nation-state as a political actor. He makes the case for democracy as the best form of government, which he sees China and Russia as in transition towards, although the path will be difficult for these nations. He also declared his role in a princely family as something that has legitimacy only from the assent of the people. He stated that government should be limited to a small set of tasks and abilities, writing that people "have to free the state from all the unnecessary tasks and burdens with which it has been loaded during the last hundred years, which have distracted it from its two main tasks: maintenance of the rule of law and foreign policy".[38] Hans-Adam is a friend of the German anarcho-capitalist economist Hans-Hermann Hoppe.[39]

Hans-Adam wrote to the foreword to a Sourcebook, on Self-Determination and Self-Administration, which was edited by Wolfgang F. Danspeckgruber and Arthur Watts (ISBN 1-55587-786-9, 1997), and in the Encyclopedia Princetoniensis.[40]

In an interview with Radio Liechtenstein in February 2021, Prince Hans-Adam II expressed his support for same-sex marriage but said he opposed allowing same-sex couples to adopt.[41][42]

Interest in UFO research

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Hans-Adam II has financed research into UFOs for decades and is said to have a great personal interest in ufology.[43] This became public through the diaries of the well-known ufologist and astronomer Jacques Vallée, whom Hans-Adam had invited to his castle. He also worked with the American businessman Robert Bigelow, who has also financed UFO research. Hans-Adam's interest in the phenomenon is said to have been sparked by a UFO sighting by his aunt in Munich in the 1950s.[44]

Titles, styles and honours

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Titles and styles

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  • 14 February 1945 – 13 November 1989: His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein
  • 13 November 1989 – present: His Serene Highness The Prince of Liechtenstein

The official title of the monarch is "Prince of Liechtenstein, Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count of Rietberg, Sovereign of the House of Liechtenstein" (German: Fürst von und zu Liechtenstein, Herzog von Troppau und Jägerndorf, Graf zu Rietberg, Regierer des Hauses von und zu Liechtenstein).[45]

Honours and awards

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See also: List of honours of the Liechtensteiner princely family by country

Foreign

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Awards

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Arms

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Coat of arms of Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Coronet
Ducal hat of Liechtenstein
Escutcheon
Quarterly: I Or, an eagle displayed Sable crowned and armed Or charged with a crescent treflée, issuing from the middle thereof a cross pattée Argent (Silesia); II barry of eight Or and Sable, a crown of rue bendways throughout Vert (Kuenring); III per pale Gules and Argent (Duchy of Troppau); IV Or, a harpy displayed Sable the human parts Argent crowned and armed Or (Cirksena); on a point entée Azure, a bugle-horn stringed Or (Duchy of Jägerndorf); en surtout, an inescutcheon per fess or and Gules (House of Liechtenstein).[50]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "IFES Election Guide | Elections: Liechtenstein Parliamentary Mar 11 2005". www.electionguide.org. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  2. ^ "H.S.H. Prince Hans Adam II". Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Baby Prince Named for Pope". The New York Times. 19 February 1945. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Liechtenstein Royal Family". Monarchies of Europe. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Liechtenstein Princess Has Son". The New York Times. 18 February 1945. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  6. ^ "H.S.H. Prince Hans-Adam II". Das Fürstenhaus von Liechtenstein. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  7. ^ Hofmann, Paul (23 July 1989). "WHAT'S DOING IN: Liechtenstein". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  8. ^ Pendleton, Devon (26 October 2017). "The Richest Royal in Europe Just Keeps Getting Richer". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  9. ^ Liechtenstein prince wins powers BBC News Online, 16 March 2003. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
  10. ^ "Country profile: Liechtenstein – Leaders". BBC News. 6 December 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
  11. ^ "WHAT'S DOING IN: Liechtenstein". The New York Times. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  12. ^ Foulkes, Imogen (1 July 2012). "Liechtenstein referendum rejects curbs on royal powers". BBC News.
  13. ^ Wise, Michael Z. (29 June 2012). "The Prince vs. the 'Paupers'". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013.
  14. ^ Fleck, Fiona (17 March 2003). "Voters give billionaire prince new powers". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  15. ^ "Liechtenstein redraws Europe map". BBC News. 28 December 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
  16. ^ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Prince Hans Adam II". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Odysseys of Art: Masterpieces Collected by the Princes of Liechtenstein". Hong Kong Palace Museum 2022–2023.
  18. ^ "Liechtenstein's Crown Prince Takes a Bride". The New York Times. 31 July 1967. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  19. ^ "H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois". Liechtenstein Princely House Official Website. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022. Princess Marie Caroline, born 17 October 1996
  20. ^ "Max von Liechtenstein: "Corona Separates Wheat from Chaff"". 17 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  21. ^ Tregaskes, Chandler (12 June 2020). "Royally stylish: The Princess of Liechtenstein whose wedding might have inspired the Duchess of Sussex". Tatler. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2020. Princess Angela and Prince Maximillian of Liechtenstein have one son, Alfonso, who was born in 2001 ...
  22. ^ "PARTICIPATION OF THE LIECHTENSTEIN GROUP LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR FURTHER EXPANSION". PV Invest. Klagenfurt. 11 March 2021. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022. Constantin Liechtenstein and Johannes Meran, managing directors of Liechtenstein Beteiligungs GmbH: "We are convinced that PV-Invest is the suitable partner for the future growth strategy of the Liechtenstein Group in the business area "Renewable Energies" due to the many years of expertise of the management and the successful track record."
  23. ^ Editorial Staff (7 August 2005). "Nachwuchs bei der Liechtensteiner Fürstenfamilie" [Offspring in the Liechtenstein princely family]. Derstandard (in German). Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  24. ^ a b "SOS KINDERDORF". SOS Village Liechtenstein. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022. H.S.H. Tatjana von Lattorff. Our patroness: Princess of Liechtenstein
  25. ^ García Albi, Ines (31 March 1995). "Tatiana de Liechtenstein, una novia para el Príncipe" [Tatjana of Liechtenstein, a bride for the Prince]. El País. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  26. ^ Pinteño, Alberto (31 March 1995). "Liechtenstein bajo el Rey Sol" [Liechtenstein under the Sun King]. Vanity Fair Spain. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Spatenstich für das Wohnheim "Birkahus" erfolgt" [Groundbreaking Ceremony for the "Birkahus" Residential Home]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt. 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Anerkennung und Unterstützung für soziales Engagement" [Recognition and Support for Social Commitment]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt. 14 September 2018. Archived from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Tatjana von Lattorff Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Vienna International School Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  30. ^ William Bortrick. "HSH Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein. The Royal Family of Liechtenstein. House of Liechtenstein". Burke's Peerage. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Vice President: Philipp von Lattorff". steiermark.iv.at. 24 July 2022. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022.
  32. ^ Bloom, Molly. (12 December 2000) Opening of Liechtenstein institute draws international dignitaries. The Daily Princetonian
  33. ^ Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination at Princeton University Mission & Outreach: The Liechtenstein Institute (retrieved 23 January 2015)
  34. ^ "Fürst Hans-Adam II". Archived 23 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  35. ^ Brósch-Fohraheim, Eugen (October 2008). "Schwedischer König als Pfadfinder in Wien-Zusammenkunft der "Weltpfadfinderstiftung" in Wien 2008". 29 Live (in German): 21.
  36. ^ "Seine Majestät Carl XVI Gustaf König von Schweden zu Gast in Wien". Archived 11 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  37. ^ "Medienmitteilung aus dem Fürstenhaus (Media Release from the Princely House)" (PDF) (in German). Das Fürstenhaus von Liechtenstein (The Princely House of Liechtenstein). 6 December 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  38. ^ "H.S.H. Prince Hans-Adam II – The State in the Third Millennium". Uncommon Knowledge. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  39. ^ Woods, Tom (18 August 2017). "Ep. 979 Liechtenstein: The Closest Thing to a Libertarian Country?". Tomwoods.com. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  40. ^ "Encyclopedia Princetoniensis: The Princeton Encyclopedia of Self-Determination (PESD) - Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination". lisd.princeton.edu.
  41. ^ "Prince Of Liechtenstein: "Gays Can Get Married, But They Can't Adopt"". Gay Nation. 22 February 2021.
  42. ^ "Gleichgeschlechtliche Ehe: Von Entrüstung bis Zustimmung" [Same-sex marriage: From outrage to approval]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 17 February 2021.
  43. ^ "Liechtensteins Fürst Hans-Adam II. sponserte UFO-Forschung". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). 15 February 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  44. ^ Kummer, Christoph (26 May 2020). "Der Fürst und das UFO, das Richtung Schweiz verschwand". SWI swissinfo.ch (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  45. ^ "Hausgesetz". Sekretariat Seiner Durchlaucht des Fürsten von Liechtenstein. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  46. ^ "Johannes Adam II, Fürst von und zu Liechtenstein, * 1945 - Geneall.net". www.geneall.net.
  47. ^ Parliamentary question, page=903.
  48. ^ "Uni Innsbruck ehrt verdiente Persönlichkeiten" [University of Innsbruck honors deserving individuals]. University of Innsbruck (Press release).
  49. ^ "Principele Suveran de Liechtenstein, omagiat la Cluj - Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". www.romaniaregala.ro.
  50. ^ "The Emblems". The Princely House of Liechtenstein. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein.
Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Born: 14 February 1945
Regnal titles
Preceded by Prince of Liechtenstein
1989–present 		Incumbent
Heir apparent:
Alois
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