Liechtenstein Adopts Gender‑Neutral Succession Law

Sun Sep 06 2026 20:02:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Liechtenstein updates its royal succession rule, allowing any first‑born child—male or female—to inherit the throne.

Liechtenstein has changed its royal succession rules to allow any first‑born child—regardless of gender—to inherit the throne. The change was announced on the country's national day and applies to the descendants of the current heir. It does not affect Hereditary Prince Alois himself but will shape the line of succession for his future children. The principality remains a small constitutional monarchy with a king who holds significant political powers, and the reform follows a long‑standing trend of gender‑neutral succession in European monarchies.

On 15 August, the tiny principality of Liechtenstein announced a landmark change to its royal succession law.

The new law replaces male‑preference primogeniture with absolute primogeniture, meaning the first‑born child—regardless of gender—will become the heir to the throne.

The reform does not affect the current heir, Hereditary Prince Alois, the eldest son of Prince Hans‑Adam II, because it will only apply to the children of Prince Alois and his wife, Hereditary Princess Sophie.

Liechtenstein, a doubly landlocked state between Switzerland and Austria, has a constitutional monarchy where the ruling prince holds substantial political authority.

A similar shift was adopted by Britain in 2011, granting first‑born daughters the right to inherit the British throne.