Prince Michael of Kent.Photo: Indigo/Getty
Queen Elizabeth’s cousin has returned a Russian honor amid the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Prince Michael of Kent is returning the Order of Friendship, one of the highest orders in Russia, that he received from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in 2009 for his work on Anglo-Russo relations.
“I can confirm that HRH Prince Michael of Kent is returning his Russian Order of Friendship,” a spokesman for the prince said, according to theDaily Express.“There will be no further comment.”
Prince Michael is related through his grandmother to Tsar Nicholas II, and he has been visiting Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992, according to hiswebsite. He speaks Russian and is the patron of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Michael of Kent.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Last year, Prince Michael wasaccused of selling access to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime. He was secretly filmed during a business meeting with two undercover reporters posing as investors from a fake South Korean business seeking contacts in the Kremlin,according to theSunday Times of London. Prince Michael, 79, allegedly offered his royal endorsement in exchange for a $200,000 fee, reportedly saying he’d use his home in Kensington Palace (wherePrince WilliamandKate Middletonalso live with their three children) as a backdrop for the recorded speech.
His friend and business partner Simon Isaacs, whose title is the Marquess of Reading, reportedly described Prince Michael as “Her Majesty’s unofficial ambassador to Russia” during the Zoom meeting.
TheSunday Timesalso reported that Icaacs said Prince Michael would be prepared to help “open the door” for the phony company through contact with Putin.
“We’re talking relatively discreetly here because we wouldn’t want the world to know that he is seeing Putin purely for business reasons,” Isaacs allegedly said.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Michael of Kent.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
A spokesperson for Prince Michael said in a statement, according toCNN: “Prince Michael has no special relationship with President Putin. They last met in 2003 and he has had no contact with him or his office since then.”
“Lord Reading is a good friend, who made suggestions which Prince Michael would not have wanted, or been able, to fulfill,” the spokesperson added.
Although Prince Michael of Kent has represented the Queen at official occasions, including the 150th anniversary of the Crimean War in Ukraine and Trooping the Colour (the Queen’s annual public birthday celebration in June), he does not receive any funding from the Sovereign Grant. He works as a consultant for business clients and his personal company, Cantium Services.
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.Jamie Lorriman - WPA Pool/Getty
The British royal family has shown their support for Ukraine over recent weeks.Queen Elizabethmade a"generous donation"to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal earlier this week.
On Wednesday,Prince CharlesandCamilla, Duchess of Cornwallhad anemotional meetingwith Ukrainians in London.
Camilla appeared tearful during the visit but comforted the wife of Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.K. Vadym Prystaiko, hugging her and telling her, “We are praying for you.”
Prince WilliamandKate Middletonofferedwords of support for Ukrainein a statement shared on their joint@KensingtonRoyalTwitter account on Saturday, whilePrince HarryandMeghan Markleissued astatementof their own on Feb. 24.
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On Tuesday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyythanked Britain’s royal familyfor voicing their support for the country.
“Good will triumph,” he added.
source: people.com
