Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein

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Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein
Prince Nikolaus in 2010
Born (1947-10-24) 24 October 1947 (age 76)
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[edit]

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[edit]

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]

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.[4]

Marriage and family[edit]

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.[5]

They have had four children and two grandchildren:[6]

  • Prince Leopold Emmanuel Jean Marie of Liechtenstein (b. Brussels, 20 May 1984 – d. Brussels, 20 May 1984). Buried at Royal Crypt (Belgium).
  • Princess Maria-Anunciata Astrid Joséphine Veronica of Liechtenstein (b. Brussels-Uccle, 12 May 1985). Married to Carlo Emanuele Musini (b. 1979, Camden, London, UK) in a civil ceremony on 26 June 2021 in Gubbio, Italy. The religious ceremony took place on 4 September 2021 at the Scots Basilica in Vienna, Austria.
  • Princess Marie-Astrid Nora Margarita Veronica of Liechtenstein (b. Brussels-Uccle, 26 June 1987). On 25 September 2021, married to Raphael Worthington V (b. 5 April 1985, United States) at Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Orbetello, Italy.[7] The couple has a daughter:
    • Althaea Georgina Worthington (b. 1 July 2022).[8]
  • Prince Josef-Emanuel Leopold Marie of Liechtenstein (b. Brussels-Uccle, 7 May 1989). Married to Colombian María Claudia "Cloclo"[9] Echavarría Suárez (b. 1988, Switzerland),[10] founder of a creative consultancy for Latin American brands named Sí Collective,[9] on 25 March 2022 at St. Peter Claver Church in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.[11]
    • Prince Leopold of Liechtenstein (March 2023)

Scouting[edit]

Niklaus was Chief Scout (German: Korpsführer) of Fürstlich Liechtensteinische Pfadfinderkorps St. Georg from 1971 to 1989.[12] Today he is an honorary member of the Scout association.[13] Nikolaus spoke at the European Forum of Guild-Scouts in Grossarl in 1990 about the topic of hunting and nature protection.[citation needed]

Red Cross[edit]

Nikolaus is Delegate for International Affairs of Liechtenstein Red Cross.[14]

Honours[edit]

National honours[edit]

Foreign honours[edit]

Ancestry[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  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. ^ Portal of the Principality of Liechtenstein – Embassy of Brussels
  5. ^ "Grand Ducal siblings: Princess Marie-Astrid, Prince Jean, Princess Margaretha and Prince Guillaume". RTL. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Princess Marie-Astrid of Liechtenstein marries in lavish ceremony at Tuscany's Orbetello Cathedral". Tatler. 27 September 2021.
  8. ^ Sekretariat SD des Fürsten von Liechtenstein
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "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
  11. ^ "The European social set flocked to Cartagena for a royal wedding this weekend". Tatler. 28 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Geschichte der liechtensteinischen Pfadfinderbewegung" (in German). Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  13. ^ "Über unseren Verband" (in German). Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  14. ^ Liechtenstein Red Cross. Ifrc (25 March 2015). Retrieved on 2018-02-21.
  15. ^ Military Collection. coleccionesmilitares.com.
  16. ^ Anfragebeantwortung. parlament.gv.at (23 April 2012). p. 930
  17. ^ 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