Prince Michael of Kent
Queen’s cousin returns Russian medals
Prince Michael of Kent and his wife, Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz, at a previous ceremony in Moscow.
© imago/Chernykh
Prince Michael of Kent, the British Queen’s cousin, has returned a high Russian award he received in 2009.
Prince Michael of Kent (79) has returned a Russian award. This is the Order of Friendship, one of Russia’s highest decorations, which Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin (95) received in 2009 from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (56) for his work on Anglo-Russian relations . “I can confirm that His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent is returning his Russian Friendship Medal,” said a spokesman for the Prince the “Daily Express”. “There will be no further comment.”
Prince Michael is related to Russia’s Tsar Nicholas II (1868-1918) through his grandmother and has been visiting Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992, as it on his website called. The British royal speaks Russian and is patron of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce.
Business with contacts to the Putin regime?
Last year, Prince Michael was accused of selling access to the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin, 69, like the The Sunday Times of London reported. A spokesman for Prince Michael said according to CNN in a statement However, “Prince Michael has no special relationship with President Putin. They last met in 2003 and he has not had any contact with him or his office since.”
Although Prince Michael of Kent has represented the Queen on official occasions, including the 150th anniversary of the Crimean War in Ukraine, he does not receive any Sovereign Grant funds. He works as a consultant for business clients and his own company, Cantium Services.
Royals support Ukraine
The British royal family has expressed its support for Ukraine in recent days. Queen Elizabeth made a “generous donation” to the Disasters Emergency Committee earlier this week. On Wednesday, Prince Charles (73) and Duchess Camilla (74) had an emotional meeting with Ukrainians in London. And Prince William, 39, and Duchess Kate, 40, spoke to Ukraine in a statement on her Twitter account their support on Saturday.
On February 24, 2022, the Russian President and his army launched a war of aggression against Ukraine.