Princess Michael of Kent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marie-Christine |
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| Princess Michael of Kent | |
Photograph by Allan Warren, 1999
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| Born | Baroness Marie-Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz 15 January 1945 Karlsbad, Greater German Reich (now Czech Republic) |
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| House | Reibnitz (by birth) Windsor (by marriage) |
| Father | Baron Günther von Reibnitz |
| Mother | Countess Maria Szapáry von Muraszombath |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
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Princess Michael of Kent (born Baroness Marie-Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz, 15 January 1945) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Michael of Kent, who is a grandson of King George V. Princess Michael of Kent was an interior designer before becoming an author; she has written several books on European royalty.
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Early Life and Family History
Princess Michael was born Marie-Christine von Reibnitz on January 15, 1945. This was in Karlovy Vary, a town in what was then Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. Today, this place is part of the Czech Republic. She was born at her Austrian grandmother's family home.
Her family, the Reibnitz family, is a very old noble family from Silesia. They have been nobles since 1288. Their family home was in Rybnica, which is now in Poland. On her father's side, Princess Michael is also related to Queen Elizabeth II.
Her father was Günther Hubertus von Reibnitz. Her mother was Countess Maria Anna Carolina Franziska Walburga Bernadette Szapáry. Her mother's father was an ambassador for Austria-Hungary.
Princess Michael's father was a cavalry officer during the Second World War. Near the end of the war, her family moved to Bavaria, Germany. Her parents divorced in 1946. Princess Michael then moved to Australia with her mother and older brother. She went to school there at the Convent of the Sacred Heart. In the early 1960s, she lived with her father on his farm in Mozambique. Later, she moved to London to study art history.
Marriages and Family Life
Princess Michael's first husband was an English banker named Thomas Troubridge. They met in Germany and married on September 14, 1971. The couple separated in 1973 and divorced in 1977. Their marriage was later officially ended by the church in May 1978.
One month later, on June 30, 1978, she married Prince Michael of Kent in Vienna, Austria. Prince Michael is the son of Prince George, Duke of Kent. He is also a grandson of King George V. A royal family member, Lord Mountbatten, helped them meet.
Prince Michael gave Marie-Christine a special ring. It had sapphire and diamond stones that belonged to his mother. After their wedding, she became known as Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent. The couple later had their marriage blessed in a Roman Catholic ceremony in London in 1983.
Because Prince Michael married a Roman Catholic, he lost his right to the throne at that time. However, a new law in 2013 changed this. Prince Michael got his right to the throne back on March 26, 2015. Their children are members of the Church of England. They have always kept their rights to the throne.
Prince and Princess Michael of Kent have two children:
- Lord Frederick Windsor, born on April 6, 1979. He married Sophie Winkleman in 2009. They have two daughters, Maud and Isabella.
- Lady Gabriella Kingston, born on April 23, 1981. She married Thomas Kingston on May 18, 2019. Sadly, her husband passed away on February 25, 2024.
Career and Books
Before she married Prince Michael, she worked as an interior designer. She later started her design company again. In 1986, her first book, Crowned in a Far Country: Portraits of Eight Royal Brides, was published. She also wrote another book called Cupid and the King: Five Royal Paramours.
From 2007 to 2011, Princess Michael was the president of Partridge Fine Art. This was an art gallery in London. In 2008, she became a consultant for Galerie Gmurzynska in Switzerland. She later became their international ambassador. She also served on the board of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Princess Michael gives talks around the world about history. She promotes her books and supports her charities.
Royal and Charity Work
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Prince and Princess Michael have represented the Queen at important events. These include the independence celebrations in Belize and the coronation of King Mswati III of Eswatini. Princess Michael also supports many charities and organizations.
She has a strong passion for protecting cheetahs. She is an international royal patron for the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. She is also a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London. This is a group dedicated to studying natural history.
Finances and Home
Prince Michael has never received money from the government. The couple has been able to use a large apartment at Kensington Palace. Queen Elizabeth II used to pay the rent for this apartment. This was to recognize the royal work and charity work they did without public money.
In 2008, it was decided that Prince and Princess Michael would pay the rent themselves. They have paid £120,000 a year since 2010. They have lived in the apartment since 1979. Before 2002, they only paid for their utility bills.
Catholic Faith
Princess Michael of Kent is a Roman Catholic. She attended several events when Pope Benedict XVI visited the United Kingdom in September 2010.
She went to Mass at Westminster Cathedral. She was seated with other important people, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Pope met with them after Mass. She also attended a large outdoor Mass in Birmingham. This was to honor Cardinal John Henry Newman. Princess Michael was involved in the process to honor him.
In November 2008, she attended a special event for Cardinal Newman's remains. She also visited his room, chapel, and library. Princess Michael represented the Duke of Edinburgh at an event in Assisi, Italy, in 2011. This event was about green pilgrimages.
In July 2024, Princess Michael of Kent signed a letter. It asked the Holy See to keep the Catholic Church's Traditional Latin Mass.
Health Updates
In 1985, Princess Michael was in the hospital for a week. This was for "nervous exhaustion." In 2002, she was treated for skin cancer. In May 2021, it was reported that she had blood clots. This happened after she had COVID-19 six months earlier. She also had lung issues when she was a child. In late 2024, she fell at her Kensington Palace apartment. She broke both wrists before a Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace.
Titles and Honours
Before her marriage, she was known as The Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz. After marrying Prince Michael, she became Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent.
She has received several honours:
- February 6, 2012: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
She also has foreign honours:
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Dame Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion (September 2010).
- Vatican: Dame of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy.
- House of Habsburg: Dame of the Order of the Starry Cross.
- House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (Castroan branch): Dame Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.
Other honours include:
- Honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.
- Honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Weavers.
- Honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
- Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (FLS).
Children
| Name | Birth | Marriage | Children | |
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| Lord Frederick Windsor | April 6, 1979 | September 12, 2009 | Sophie Winkleman | Maud Windsor Isabella Windsor |
| Lady Gabriella Kingston | April 23, 1981 | May 18, 2019 | Thomas Kingston (died February 25, 2024) |
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See also
In Spanish: María Cristina de Reibnitz para niños
