Liechtenstein has announced that it has changed royal succession rules to allow women to ascend the throne, according to the BBC; the declaration was made on the national day of the central European country, which has a population of just 44,000.

New Rule Applies to Future Descendants

Liechtenstein’s current ruler, Prince Hans-Adam II, has been the head of their royal family since 1989, while the rule change will not affect his heir, Hereditary Prince Alois, who was his first-born. Alois has carried out most official royal duties for the last two decades.

“The order of succession is being changed from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture,” the House of Liechtenstein said in a statement, while “This means that in future the first-born child, regardless of sex, will become heir to the throne and later princess or prince of Liechtenstein.”

The change will not affect Liechtenstein’s succession line for now — it will only apply to descendants of the four children of Hereditary Prince Alois and his wife, Hereditary Princess Sophie. In a statement, Alois said: “With this change in the law, we want to ensure that both the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Princely House are led by the person who has been best prepared for this responsibility.”

Monarch Retains Strong Powers

Liechtenstein is a tiny, doubly-landlocked country tucked away between Switzerland and Austria, whose ruler enjoys sweeping political powers, unlike many of his counterparts in Europe — In 2011, Britain changed its succession laws to allow first-born daughters of a monarch to inherit the throne.

Hereditary Prince Alois announced the change in his speech marking the country’s national day. He said it was approved on Wednesday by the necessary two-thirds majority of family members who can vote on such matters. “The ability to combine continuity and renewal is also a principle that we encourage inside the princely house,” Alois said, according to a text of his remarks posted on the house’s website. “In our centuries-old history, it has served us well to make decisions in a long-term and very well thought-out way.”

“The line of succession will be adjusted from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture,” Alois said. “That means that in the future, the first-born child will, regardless of sex, become the heir to the throne and later the princess or prince of Liechtenstein.”

A statement from the princely house specified that the change will only apply to descendants of the children of Alois and his wife, Hereditary Princess Sophie, who are born in the future, so it won’t affect the line of succession for now.

Prince Hans-Adam II remains the head of state, but in 2004 handed over most of his powers to Alois, his eldest son, who is now 58. That was in line with a tradition of Liechtenstein monarchs giving up the reins to their heirs. The eldest of Alois’ four children is 31-year-old Prince Joseph Wenzel. The second-oldest is Princess Marie Caroline, 29.

Unique Monarchic Powers

Liechtenstein, a wealthy nation of 40,000 people that borders Switzerland and Austria, has an unusually powerful monarchy by European standards. The ruling prince has the power to veto referendum results, appoint judges and fire the government.