Liechtenstein has changed its royal succession rules to allow women to inherit the throne, ending the country’s tradition of male-only succession.

The announcement was made on the national day of the small central European principality, which has a population of around 44,000.

Women Can Now Inherit the Throne

Under the new rules, Liechtenstein has moved from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture.

This means the first-born child will become heir to the throne regardless of whether they are male or female.

The House of Liechtenstein said the change means that in future, the first-born child will inherit the position and eventually become the country’s prince or princess.

The reform brings Liechtenstein’s succession system in line with the principle that gender should not determine who inherits the throne.

Prince Hans-Adam II Remains Ruler

The rule change does not affect the current succession immediately.

Prince Hans-Adam II has been head of the House of Liechtenstein since 1989. His eldest son, Hereditary Prince Alois, remains next in line to the throne.

Alois has already taken on most of his father’s official responsibilities over the past two decades.

The new succession rules will instead apply to future generations.

What the New Rule Means

The change will apply to descendants of Alois and his wife, Hereditary Princess Sophie.

They have four children, meaning that under the new system, the eldest child in future generations will inherit the position regardless of gender.

Previously, a younger male child could have taken precedence over an older female sibling under the system of male primogeniture.

Under absolute primogeniture, that distinction disappears.

Why Liechtenstein Changed the Succession Law

Hereditary Prince Alois said the change was intended to ensure that the person best prepared for the responsibility of leading the country and the Princely House can inherit the position.

The reform represents a significant change for Liechtenstein’s monarchy, even though it will not alter the current line of succession.

For now, Alois remains the heir. However, future generations of the Liechtenstein royal family will no longer be excluded from the throne simply because they are women.

A Change for Future Generations

The decision marks a modernization of Liechtenstein’s royal succession system.

While the country remains one of Europe’s smallest monarchies, the change ensures that gender will no longer determine succession to the Liechtenstein throne.

The first-born child will now have priority, creating a succession system based on birth order rather than sex.