Describing a country as a "Principality" does not necessarily mean that it does not have independent status; it means that its head of state is a Prince. A Kingdom isn't necessarily independent, though I'd have to cudgel my brains a little to come up with an example. Perhaps some of Napoleon Bonaparte's artificial client states ?

Monaco is a Principality, as is Liechtenstein. Luxembourg is a mere Grand Duchy.



I have heard a few laughs about the CIA site. Countries, being full of people, with all their idiosyncacies, do not fit neatly into bean-counters' categories. I recall that it gave Britain's "Date of independence" as 1803. [Act of Union of Britain and Ireland]. Independent from whom, one asks.