Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein

Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein
Prince Nikolaus in 2024
Born (1947-10-24) 24 October 1947 (age 77)
Zürich, Switzerland
Spouse
(m. 1982)
Issue
Names
Nikolaus Ferdinand Maria Josef Raphael
HouseLiechtenstein
FatherFranz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
MotherCountess Georgina von Wilczek

Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein (Nikolaus Ferdinand Maria Josef Raphael; born 24 October 1947) is a Liechtensteiner lawyer, diplomat and prince. He is a younger brother of the reigning prince of Liechtenstein, Hans-Adam II. He was also the non-resident Ambassador of Liechtenstein to the Holy See.[1]

Early life

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Nikolaus was born in Zürich as the third son of Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein and his wife, Countess Georgina of Wilczek.

In 1950 at the age of three Nikolaus was made a Knight of Justice in minority of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.[2] When the class of knights in minority was abolished in 1961, Nikolaus received his present rank in the order as a Knight of Honour and Devotion.

Nikolaus completed his primary education in Vaduz before attending the Schottengymnasium in Vienna and the Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz.[3] From 1968 to 1972 he studied law at the University of Vienna from which he graduated with the degree Doctor iuris.[3]

Career

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From 1973 to 1974, Nikolaus was Wissenschaftlicher Assistent at the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva.[3] From 1975 to 1976, he worked for courts in Vaduz.[3] From 1977 to 1978, he was an advisor to the Office of International Relations of the Liechtenstein government.[3] Nikolaus is Delegate for International Affairs of Liechtenstein Red Cross.[4]

From 1979 to 1989, Nikolaus was Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.[3] From 1986 to 2017, he was non-resident Ambassador of Liechtenstein to the Holy See.[3] From 1989 to 1996, he was Ambassador of Liechtenstein to Switzerland.[3] From 1996 to September 2010, he was Ambassador of Liechtenstein to Belgium.[5]

Niklaus was Chief Scout (German: Korpsführer) of Fürstlich Liechtensteinische Pfadfinderkorps St. Georg from 1971 to 1989.[6] Today he is an honorary member of the Scout association.[7] Nikolaus spoke at the European Forum of Guild-Scouts in Grossarl in 1990 about the topic of hunting and nature protection.[citation needed]

Marriage and family

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Nikolaus married on 20 March 1982, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg, Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg, youngest daughter of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg. For the time being, this is the last dynastically equal marriage between two sovereign houses currently reigning in Europe.[8]

They have four children and three grandchildren:[9]

Honours

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National honours

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Foreign honours

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Ancestry

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Liechtenstein State Directory Archived 8 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine (in German)
  2. ^ H.J.A. Sire, The Knights of Malta, A Modern Resurrection (London: Third Millennium, 2016), 223.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Curriculum vitae" (PDF) (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2007.
  4. ^ Liechtenstein Red Cross. Ifrc (25 March 2015). Retrieved on 2018-02-21.
  5. ^ Portal of the Principality of Liechtenstein – Embassy of Brussels
  6. ^ "Geschichte der liechtensteinischen Pfadfinderbewegung" (in German). Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  7. ^ "Über unseren Verband" (in German). Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  8. ^ "Grand Ducal siblings: Princess Marie-Astrid, Prince Jean, Princess Margaretha and Prince Guillaume". RTL. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  9. ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels Band XVIII. Limburg an der Lahn, Germany: C.A. Starke Verlag. 2007. pp. 48, 55, 80, 82. ISBN 978-3-7980-0841-0.
  10. ^ "Princess Maria-Anunciata of Liechtenstein married Emanuele Musini at the weekend". Tatler. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  11. ^ Sampson, Annabel (6 September 2021). "Princess Maria-Anunciata of Liechtenstein marries Emanuele Musini in glamorous Viennese wedding". Tatler. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Princess Marie-Astrid of Liechtenstein marries in lavish ceremony at Tuscany's Orbetello Cathedral". Tatler. 27 September 2021.
  13. ^ Sekretariat SD des Fürsten von Liechtenstein
  14. ^ a b Mendal, Monica (13 January 2021). "How Sí Collective Founders Are Putting Latin American Fashion On The Global Map". Forbes. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Wedding of Prince Josef-Emanuel and María Claudia Echevarría". volksblatt.li (in German). 28 March 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022. Prinz Josef-Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein und María Claudia Echevarría Suárez
  16. ^ "The European social set flocked to Cartagena for a royal wedding this weekend". Tatler. 28 March 2022.
  17. ^ Military Collection. coleccionesmilitares.com.
  18. ^ Anfragebeantwortung. parlament.gv.at (23 April 2012). p. 930
  19. ^ Medals of the World
Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein
Born: 24 October 1947
Lines of succession
Preceded by
Prince Karl Ludwig
Line of succession to
the Liechtensteiner throne

14th position
Succeeded by
Prince Josef-Emanuel