Who is Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, Prince Michael of Kent? The British royal returned his Russian honour, is related to the Romanovs, and has his own business
- He recently returned his Order of Friendship conferred by former president Dmitry Medvedev following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, despite his ties to its former imperial family
- But he’s also faced controversies, from being accused of working with Vladimir Putin, to his daughter Lady Gabriella allegedly doing drugs at Buckingham Palace
Earlier this month, Prince Michael of Kent, Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, returned his Russian Order of Friendship conferred to him by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev in 2009 in response to the escalating conflict in Ukraine, Insider reports.
However, when asked if the prince will still continue doing business in Russia, the spokesperson declined to comment.
According to CBC News, the medal is “the highest decoration that can be awarded to a non-Russian citizen”.
So, what else do we know about Prince Michael, the often overlooked senior royal, and what are some of the controversies he has faced?
1. His succession and ties to Russia
Before, Prince Michael was 15th in the line of succession. In 2015, he and his children were reinstated and the prince is now 52nd in line.
Aside from his British ties, the prince is also related to Tsar Nicholas II, the last Romanov emperor, through his grandmother, according to his biography. The prince travelled to St. Petersburg last July to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Romanov family execution, according to Town and Country.