When Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne on 6 February 1952, she joined a large group of European rulers. In this series, Royal Central looks at the men and women who were ruling on the continent as the longest reign in modern European history got under way.
Prince Franz-Joseph II of Liechtenstein
Prince Franz-Joseph II, the long-reigning prince regnant of the tiny European principality, one of the only where the monarch retains major powers.
Born on 16 August 1906, Prince Franz-Joseph II was the eldest son of Prince Aloys and Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria. His father had renounced his succession rights in 1923, reportedly due to a scheme that would solve any issues surrounding inheritance and death taxes on the family fortune—meaning that Franz-Joseph succeeded his grand-uncle, Franz I, in 1938, who’d died childless despite marrying Elisabeth von Gutmann.
Prince Franz-Joseph became a popular ruler in Liechtenstein, the first ruling prince who lived full-time in the country, and saw the neutral country through the Second World War. His dedication to the country saw it become one of the world’s richest countries (per capita) from humble origins as one reliant on an agriculture industry.
In 1943, Prince Franz-Joseph married Countess Georgina of Wilczek and the couple had five children, including his heir, Hans-Adam.
At Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, Franz-Joseph was represented by his younger brother, Prince Karl Alfred, and sister-in-law, Archduchess Agnes Christina of Austria. Neither Queen Elizabeth nor Prince Franz-Joseph paid state visits to their respective countries.
Prince Franz-Joseph passed over large portions of his powers to his son and heir, Prince Hans-Adam, on 26 August 1984, though he did not officially abdicate. He died five years later, on 13 November 1989, as one of Europe’s longest-reigning monarchs, with Prince Hans-Adam officially becoming the ruling prince of Liechtenstein.
During her 70 year reign, The Queen has seen two rulers in Liechtenstein: Prince Franz-Joseph II and Prince Hans-Adam II.
