Princess Michael of Kent, 77, and Prince Michael of Kent, 79, are expected to retire early next month

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent are to retire – after a dramatic royal career filled with allegations of racism, suspected Russian links and rows over their palace rent.

It comes just months after Prince Michael, the Queen’s first cousin and a fluent Russian speaker with a lineage to Tsar Nicholas II, was forced to sever his ties to Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

He stepped down as patron of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce, and handed back an Order of Friendship award, one of Russia’s highest honours.

Princess Michael of Kent, 77, and Prince Michael of Kent, 79, are expected to retire early next month

Princess Michael of Kent, 77, and Prince Michael of Kent, 79, are expected to retire early next month

Princess Michael of Kent, 77, and Prince Michael of Kent, 79, are expected to retire early next month

The couple were married in Vienna in 1978, in doing so he forfeited his place in the line of succession to the throne until it was reinstated in 2015

The couple were married in Vienna in 1978, in doing so he forfeited his place in the line of succession to the throne until it was reinstated in 2015

The couple were married in Vienna in 1978, in doing so he forfeited his place in the line of succession to the throne until it was reinstated in 2015

An official announcement in the coming days is expected to say that Prince Michael, who turns 80 next month, and his wife, Marie-Christine, 77, will step down from public life, according to The Daily Telegraph. It is understood the retirement will coincide with the prince’s birthday on July 4.

According to the official Royal Family website, Prince Michael is classified as a ‘non-working royal’ and partakes in more than 200 public engagements for the not-for-profit sector, which are funded by his own household, rather than the taxpayer.

Princess Michael, who is nicknamed ‘Princess Pushy’ in some royal circles, is ‘actively involved in around 45 different charities and organisations’, according to the website, ‘including animal and wildlife trusts and health and welfare charities’.

Born in 1942, his first memorable appearance was as a five-year-old as a page boy at the Queen’s wedding to Prince Philip.

While just outside the top 50 for succession to the throne, he is often seen at the side of the Queen at family events.

He has two siblings who he is often seen with, Princess Alexandra and the Duke of Kent.

He is known for his love of Russia, which he would visit twice a year, The Prince Michael of Kent Foundation works to benefit heritage, culture, health and post-graduate business education in Russia according to the royal website.

However Prince Michael received a large amount of media attention last year after there were reports he was ‘selling access’ to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political representatives.

Footage from a Zoom call emerged showing Prince Michael assuring what were undercover reporters that his close ties with the Russia would allow him to introduce them to high-ranking figures within their government for a certain fee.

The call took place the day after the European Union imposed sanctions on the Kremlin, but he seemed pleased when he was offered £143,000 for a proposal and £36,000 a month by the faux businessmen.

He was highly criticised by several prominent figures including Alexander Litvinenko’s widow Marina, who said the prince demonstrated that he didn’t ‘care about human rights, democracy, about the people who are dying in Russia or what he did to your own citizens on UK soil’.

While Conservative MP Bob Seely said: ‘We have sanctions against President Putin’s regime for good reason. I’d love to know what Prince Michael thinks he is doing by making the UK’s values and standards look optional.’

When Russia invaded Ukraine this year, Prince Michael returned the Order of Friendship – which is awarded to individuals who have strengthened peace, friendship, cooperation and understanding between Russia and other nations.

For the bulk of his career he in the army, from 1961 to 1981 , being first commissioned into the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert’s Own).

He saw service in Germany, Hong Kong, and Cyprus, where his squadron formed part of a United Nations peacekeeping force in 1971. 

He retired from the Army with the rank of Major in 1981.

He married his wife, then Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz, in 1978 after receiving Pope John Paul II’s permission as the previous pope had barred them from having a Catholic wedding. 

You May Also Like

Filming for season two of Netflix series Vikings: Valhalla gets underway in Ireland

It’s the long awaited sequel series of the hit historical drama series…

Crawley rail station stabbing: police cordon off ‘murder scene’ as three youths arrested

Paramedics and members of the public battled to save the life of…

Collapsed crypto firm FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried hobbled his own defense against criminal charges

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, facing mounting legal challenges over the collapse of…

Theo Hayez’s mother Vinciane speaks out on her backpacker son’s Byron Bay disappearance

The heartbroken mother of missing Belgium backpacker Theo Hayez has said while…