Princess Marie, wife of Prince Hans-Adam II, was born in Prague as the fourth of seven children of Count Ferdinand Carl Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau and Countess Henriette, nee Countess von Ledebur-Wicheln.
“A life of faith in God, charity, responsibility and a sense of family.” *
Princess Marie Aglaë Bonaventura Theresia von und zu Liechtenstein (1940 - 2021), Duchess of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Countess of Rietberg, née Countess Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau, was born in Prague on 14 April 1940, the fourth of seven children of Count Ferdinand Carl Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau and Countess Henriette von Ledebur-Wicheln.
Her family was expelled from what was then Czechoslovakia in 1945 and fled to Germany. She attended primary school in Ering am Inn before entering the boarding school of the Lioba Sisters at the Wald Convent in Baden-Württemberg where she completed her secondary education. She then spent time improving her language skills in England and France. After obtaining a diploma from the Academy for Applied Graphics at the University of Munich, she worked as a commercial artist in Dachau until her marriage.
She married the then Hereditary Prince Hans-Adam II in Vaduz on 30 July 1967. They had four children:
Hereditary Prince Alois, born on 11 June 1968
Prince Maximilian, born on 16 May 1969
Prince Constantin, born on 15 March 1972
Princess Tatjana, born on 10 April 1973
Hereditary Prince Hans-Adam II was appointed permanent Deputy Head of State by his father Prince Franz Josef II in 1984 and entrusted with the administration of state affairs. From this time on, Princess Marie performed representative duties at her husband's side.
Solidarity and humanity
Alongside her heartfelt passion for "being a mother", Princess Marie worked hard for social institutions in Liechtenstein. She was President of the Liechtenstein Red Cross for 30 years (1985 to 2015), helping to provide aid for people in war and disaster areas, but also to the needy and disadvantaged in Liechtenstein. As President and Patron of the Association for Curative Education in Liechtenstein, she promoted the inclusion of people with disabilities.
Princess Marie understood how to motivate Liechtenstein’s people to support solidarity and humanity towards others. She was very committed to and interested in art, culture and music, and was intently involved in issues relating to education and childcare.
With her warm-heartedness and her great commitment to people in need and distress, she will go down in Liechtenstein’s history as the revered and loved mother of the country.
Her Serene Highness Princess Marie von und zu Liechtenstein passed away on 21 August 2021 in the hospital in Grabs after suffering a stroke.
"Perhaps I am especially moved because I have experienced hardship and hunger myself. I believe that giving love to people and helping those in need is one of the most important things in our lives." (H.S.H. Princess Marie)
