Royals in mourning as Princess Marie of Liechtenstein dies days after a stroke
PRINCESS MARIE of Liechtenstein has died aged 81, just days after suffering a stroke.
Princess Marie visits Liechtenstein Museum in 2009
Princess Marie died on August 21 at 4.43pm, an official statement confirmed. The wife of Hans-Adam II - the reigning prince of Liechtenstein - passed away in hospital in Garbs, in Switzerland, surrounded by her family.
The princess, born in 1940, was taken to hospital last Wednesday after she suffered a stroke.
Since that episode, Princess Marie's health continued to deteriorate up until her death, the statement said.
The official announcement said the royal "died peacefully" after receiving the "Holy Sacraments of the Last Supper."
She leaves behind her husband, four children and 15 grandchildren.
Liechtenstein has entered a seven day period of mourning following the royal's death.
Flags at Vaduz Castle, the official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein, have been lowered to half-mast and will remain so until the end of the mourning period.
Similarly, the country's Government asked public buildings to fly their flags at half-mast.
Daniel Risch, the Prime Minister of Liechtenstein, led tributes to the late princess by issuing a sobering message.
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He wrote on Twitter: "I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family."
The funeral of Princess Marie will be held on Saturday at St Florin Cathedral.
Media will be in attendance and the service will be live-streamed for the public.
However, only people who have been invited by the Royal Family will be able to take part in person."
Grieving royal fans will be able to sign a book of condolence at the cathedral on Thursday and Friday afternoon.
Before joining the Royal Family of Liechtenstein, Mary spent a period in England in 1957 to improve her English.
She later moved to Munich to attend the Academy for Applied Graphics and graduated in 1961.
After another short stay to improve her knowledge of foreign languages, this time in Paris, she worked as a commercial artist in a print shop in Dachau.
Princess Marie and Prince Hans-Adam II got married in July 1967 in Vaduz, the capital of the principality.
One year later, they welcomed their first son and heir, Prince Alois, who became regent in 2004.
The couple also welcomed Prince Maximilian, Prince Constantin and Princess Tatjana.
Princess Marie's husband succeeded his father as Prince of Liechtenstein in 1989.
During her life as a royal, Princess Marie became involved in several organizations and charities.
She focused her attention in particular on education, the environment and the arts.
Between 1985 and 2015 she served as president of the Liechtenstein Red Cross - while also being its patron.