Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein

Prince Joseph Wenzel
Born (1995-05-24) 24 May 1995
Portland Hospital, London, England
Full name
Joseph Wenzel Maximilian Maria
House Liechtenstein
Father Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein
Mother Duchess Sophie in Bavaria
Religion Roman Catholic

Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein, Count Rietberg (born 24 May 1995) is the eldest child of Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, the Regent and Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, and his wife Princess Sophie of Bavaria, Duchess in Bavaria, he is also the eldest grandchild of the current ruling prince of Liechtenstein.[1]

He is both second in the line of succession to the Liechtensteiner throne—through his father—and third in the Jacobite line of succession to the thrones of England, Scotland, Ireland and France—through his mother. He is the first Jacobite heir born in the British Isles since 1688 and will be, assuming his accession to the throne of Liechtenstein and upon the death of his mother, the first Jacobite heir since Francis V, Duke of Modena to become the head of state of another country.[1][2]

Biography

Prince Joseph Wenzel Maximilian Maria was born in 24 May 1995 at The Portland Hospital for Women and Children in West End of London. He is the eldest child of Prince Alois and his wife Duchess Sophie in Bavaria. He has three younger siblings: Princess Marie-Caroline (b. 1996), Prince Georg (b. 1999) and Prince Nikolaus (b. 2000). Joseph Wenzel is named in honour of his ancestor Josef Wenzel, Reigning Prince of Liechtenstein from 1712 to 1718 and from 1748 to 1772. He bears the name Maximilian in honour of his maternal grandfather Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria, and his paternal uncle and godfather, Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein. In accordance with the custom of several Roman Catholic dynasties in Europe, including that of both his parents, he was given the name Maria in honour of the Virgin Mary.[1]

In 2013 he was receiving his secondary education in England at Malvern College, where he was joined by his sister Marie-Caroline.[3] After he graduated from Malvern in May 2014, Joseph Wenzel reportedly took a gap year, where he traveled to and gained work experiences in the United States and South America.[4]

Dynastic ties

Princely House of Liechtenstein

Since birth, Joseph Wenzel has borne the titles "Prince of Liechtenstein" and "Count Rietberg." He is second in line for the throne of Liechtenstein, preceded only by his father, who has been regent since 15 August 2004.[5] However, Joseph Wenzel's grandfather Prince Hans-Adam II formally remains head of state and of the Princely House of Liechtenstein. When Prince Alois inherits that position, Joseph Wenzel will become the Hereditary Prince (Erbprinz), i.e. the heir apparent to the throne.[5]

Royal House of Stuart

Joseph Wenzel is third in line and heir-apparent of his mother to the Jacobite succession to the British crown. Joseph Wenzel's grand-uncle Franz, Duke of Bavaria, is the current Jacobite heir-general, although he has made no claim to the British throne, nor have any of his ancestors in the Jacobite line of succession since 1807.[1]

Prince Franz is elderly and has no children. Accordingly, on his death the position of Stuart heir is almost certain to fall to his younger brother Prince Max, if he is still alive, and after that to Max's eldest daughter Sophie, Joseph Wenzel's mother. The status of Jacobite heir-general will thus come to Joseph Wenzel himself in due course.[1]

Ancestry

References and notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein". The Jacobite Heritage. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Jacobite Succession Family Tree".
  3. ↑ Malvern College e-newsletter, April 2013
  4. ↑ Luxarazzi, Sydney (2015-02-14). "Luxarazzi : Three Generations: Interview with Prince Wenzel". Luxarazzi. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  5. 1 2 Country profile: Liechtenstein – Leaders BBC News, 6 December 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein
Born: 24 May 1995
Lines of succession
Preceded by
The Hereditary Prince		 Line of succession to the
Liechtensteiner throne
2nd position		 Succeeded by
Prince Georg
Preceded by
The Hereditary Princess
of Liechtenstein		 Jacobite succession
3rd position
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