Prince Michael of Kent will offer his support to his daughter, Lady Gabriella Windsor, in the wake of her husband’s passing, Thomas Kingston, who is also the Prince’s son-in-law.
The death was announced on 27 February in a joint statement that read: “It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Thomas Kingston, our beloved husband, son and brother. Tom was an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him. His death has come as a great shock to the whole family and we ask you to respect our privacy as we mourn his passing.”
His Royal Connection
Born on 4 July 1942 in Buckinghamshire, Prince Michael of Kent is the son of Prince George, the Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. His siblings include Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy.
As the first cousin of the late Queen on her father’s side, he shares Queen Mary and George V as their common grandparents.
His Family Life
In 1978, Prince Michael entered into marriage with Princess Michael of Kent, originally born as Baroness Marie Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz and hailing from German, Hungarian, and Austrian ancestry. She is recognized as an author and interior designer.
Together, the couple has two children: Lord Frederick Windsor, aged 44, and Lady Gabriella Kingston, aged 42. Additionally, they have two grandchildren from their son’s union with Sophie Winkleman: ten-year-old Maud and seven-year-old Isabella.
His Career
Prince Michael manages his own consultancy business, collaborating with clients globally. In addition to his business endeavors, he has produced documentaries focusing on European royals and, on occasion, has represented the late Queen at Commonwealth events.
Before pursuing these ventures, Prince Michael underwent training at Sandhurst and enjoyed a lengthy military career spanning two decades. His service included postings in Germany, Hong Kong, and Cyprus, as outlined in his biography on the royal family’s website.
Despite his extensive contributions, he is no longer an active senior member of the royal family and chose to withdraw from public life in 2022, just ahead of his 80th birthday.
Prince Michael’s Scandals
In 2021, it was reported that the Prince, who is fluent in Russian and used to be a frequent visitor to the country before COVID-19, allegedly offered to “sell access” to representatives of Vladimir Putin for over £143,000. The report, featured in The Times, was based on Zoom call footage capturing Prince Michael and the Marquess of Reading, recorded by undercover reporters. The royal later clarified to the newspaper that he had not been in contact with the Russian president since 2003.
In 2002, the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent faced scrutiny from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee. The rent for their Kensington Palace apartments was revealed to be a mere £69 per week, leading the committee to recommend that the Queen should ask her cousins to vacate the premises and charge a market rate for renting the property.
However, Buckingham Palace defended the decision and released a statement in support of the royal couple. It read: “The Queen is paying the rent for Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s apartment at a commercial rate of £120,000 annually, from her own private funds.
“This rent payment by The Queen is in recognition of the Royal engagements and work for various charities which Prince and Princess Michael of Kent have undertaken at their own expense, and without any public funding.”
In 2008, it was declared that Prince and Princess Michael would assume responsibility for covering the entire rent for the property.
From 2002 to 2008, the Prince received financial assistance from Boris Berezovsky, a Russian oligarch and outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin who resided in the U.K. until his passing in 2013.
The money, which totalled £320,000, was another issue over which Prince Michael faced scrutiny, but speaking to The Sunday Times at the time, his benefactor insisted: “There is nothing underhand or improper about the financial assistance I have given Prince Michael. It is a matter between friends.”
