Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein (born Sophie Elisabeth Marie Gabrielle Herzogin in Bayern; 28 October 1967) is married to Alois, Hereditary Prince and Regent of Liechtenstein. She was born a member of the House of Wittelsbach, with the courtesy title of Duchess in Bavaria, and second in line for the Jacobite succession.

Early life and education

Duchess Sophie was born in Bavaria, Munich, the eldest of the five daughters of Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria, and Princess Elisabeth, Duchess in Bavaria (née Countess Douglas), in the chapel of her family's Kreuth home on 18 November. Her godparents were her maternal aunt the Duchess of Marlborough and Princess Anna Gabriele of Wrede.

Sophie spent her childhood together with her parents and sisters in Wildbad Kreuth. From 1978 to 1980, Sophie attended the Girls' Home Primary School of the English Lady in Heiligenstadt. She then moved to the Girls' Secondary Boarding School Hohenburg in Lenggries. Sophie then studied history and English language and literature at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.

Marriage and children

Duchess Sophie in Bavaria met Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein at her cousin's birthday party in Munich. The couple married on 3 July 1993 at Cathedral of St. Florin in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. They lived in London from September 1993 until May 1996, and have since then resided in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. She initially attended Ebenholz Primary School in Vaduz and the International School Rheintal in Buchs, Switzerland before completing her secondary studies at Malvern College in Worcestershire, England. Princess Marie Caroline obtained Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in fashion design from Parsons Paris School of Art and Design in 2020. She works in the fashion industry in London. Married Venezuelan investor Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer on 30 August 2025 at Vaduz Cathedral.

  • Prince Georg Antonius Constantin Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born 20 April 1999 in Grabs). He attended Malvern College and graduated in 2017. He then studied at the University of St. Gallen and continued his education at the ESCP Business School. Professionally known as Georg Liechtenstein, he works as a visiting analyst at Atlantic Labs in Berlin.
  • Prince Nikolaus Sebastian Alexander Maria of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg (born 6 December 2000 in Grabs).

She became a naturalized Liechtenstein citizen after her marriage. The Hereditary Princess often accompanies her husband on foreign visits, as well as many events within Liechtenstein itself.

In 2006, the Hereditary Princess founded the Sophie von Liechtenstein Stiftung für Frau und Kind (Sophie of Liechtenstein Foundation for Woman and Child). The foundation's purpose is to give women who unintentionally became pregnant a more positive life perspective for themselves and their children. The foundation has three offices – in Liechtenstein, Vorarlberg and St. Gallen Sophie also founded a pregnancy counseling service named schwanger.li in Schaan, Buchs, and Feldkirch. In April 2022, the foundation and Liechtenstein Red Cross launch the "Liechtenstein Family Network" project to support parents with young children from the age of 0 to 5 years in order to promote healthy development of children.

Hereditary Princess Sophie has served as a president of the Liechtenstein Red Cross since 2015. In March 2022, as president of the Red Cross, Hereditary Princess Sophie was interviewed by Radio Liechtenstein, discussing Liechtenstein's contribution to the International Red Cross's Ukraine relief funds during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She is also a patron of the Liechtenstein Animal Welfare Association. In addition, she supports Caritas Liechtenstein, an organisation that provides financial support to those facing severe financial troubles. She also visited Gamander Children's Home, a shelter home for orphaned and abandoned children. In September 2022, Sophie became the patron of the Heilpädagogische Zentrum in Liechtenstein (Special Education Center in Liechtenstein).

Honours and arms

National

  • :
  • 55px Grand Star of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Foreign

  • : Recipient of King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal, 2013.
  • : Recipient of the King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal for the 70th Birthday, 2016

Arms

frameless

See also

  • Princely Family of Liechtenstein
  • Jacobite Succession

Footnotes

References

  • Hereditary Princess Sophie - official website of the Princely House of Liechtenstein

<!-- Honours -->