She is noted to have belonged to the discussion circle of Eleonore of Liechtenstein, who acted as political advisers to Emperor Joseph II.

Leopoldine was born as the second child and the eldest daughter of Count Franz Philipp of Sternberg (1708-1786) and his wife, Countess Leopoldine of Starhemberg (1712-1800), elder sister of Georg Adam, Prince of Starhemberg.

Marie Leopoldine married Franz Joseph I, Prince of Liechtenstein, on 6 July 1750 in Valtice or Feldsberg.

[1] After the death of her spouse in 1781, she lived permanently in Vienna with her youngest daughter, Maria Josepha Hermenegilde.

She belonged to the salon or discussion circle of five princesses, headed by Eleonore of Liechtenstein, who acted as the political advisers of Emperor Joseph II, and who met him once a week (four times a week after 1780) to discuss state affairs.