Prince Michael of Kent returns his Order of Russian Friendship award

It’s a meaningful decision for Prince Michael of Kent. The first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, a notorious Russophile, presented his award of which he was so proud. Prince Michael received the Order of Friendship in 2009 from President Medvedev. The prince has a long relationship with Russia.

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Prince Michael regretfully parted ways with his Russian award

Prince Michael of Kent, 79, is the British royal family’s unofficial ambassador to Russia. The Duke of Kent’s younger brother speaks Russian, travels frequently to that country, and has done business there. He has moreover been recently accused of having promised to facilitate direct access to Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin, once morest payment.

According to his website, Prince Michael of Kent is an honorary professor at a Russian school of finance and decorated with the Russian Plekhanov University of Economics. He is the initiator of several fundraisers to help the Russian population and he has agreed to sponsor many cultural and historical events in Russia. In 2009, President Medvedev then presented him with the Order of Friendship, an award that succeeds that of the Order of Friendship of Peoples, awarded during the Soviet period.

Prince Michael of Kent at a ceremony in his honor at a university in St. Petersburg in March 2017 (Photo: Sergei Konkov/TASS/ABACAPRESS.COM)

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Michael de Kent has decided to return his Order of Russian Friendship

According to Daily ExpressPrince Michael of Kent has decided to hand over his Russian award, due to the war sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week. “I can confirm that HRH Prince Michael of Kent has returned his Russian Order of Friendship”simply said his spokesperson. “There will be no further comment.”

The Order of Friendship Medal (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Prince Michael, who gives his patronage to the Russian-British Chamber of Commerce, is also linked to the Russian imperial family. Grand Duchess Helene Vladimirovna of Russia, granddaughter of Tsar Alexander II, was Prince Michael’s grandmother. Grand Duchess Hélène had married Prince Nicolas of Greece. Their daughter, Princess Marina, married Prince George, Duke of Kent, of whom three of their children are still alive: Prince Edward, current Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent.

Nicholas Fontaine

Chief Editor

Nicolas Fontaine has been a freelance web editor since 2014. After having been a copywriter and author for numerous Belgian and French brands and media, he specialized in royalty news. Nicolas is now editor-in-chief of Histoires royales. [email protected]