Liechtenstein has announced that it has changed royal succession rules to allow women to ascend the throne.

The declaration was made on the national day of the central European country, which has a population of just 44,000.

Liechtenstein’s current ruler, Prince Hans-Adam II, has been the head of their royal family since 1989. 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.

“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.”

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.