Prince and Princess Michael of Kent Current Events 4: September 2006-September 2009

[Odette]

Princess Marina of Kent was born Princess Marina of Greece. She was the mother of Princess Alexandra, the Duke of Kent and Marie Christine's Mother in law.

 

[Menarue]

I have just had a quick look. I wasn´t looking at Princess Marina, bluer blood than hers would be hard to find. Marie-Christine comparing herself to Prince Philip? No way.

 

[Al_bina]

Princess Marina's lineage is impressive. As we know, Russian Imperial court did not favour morganatic marriages and tried to maintain the "clean" bloodline.

I have just had a quick look. I wasn´t looking at Princess Marina, bluer blood than hers would be hard to find. Marie-Christine comparing herself to Prince Philip? No way.

Here I would agree with you. According to Wikipedia (n.d.), "Through her mother, the Princess [Michael] is a great14-granddaughter of Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henry II of France, and a great12-granddaughter of Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France (his wife), and also of painter Peter Paul Rubens[2]". I am not sure that this qualifies her to be equal to Duke of Edinburgh.

 

[Odette]

Don't forget that a century ago, a Countess would be consider low level noble and the wedding would be morganatic. These days a Countess would be considered a find, a catch, a match made in heaven.........

 

[Russophile]

I meant purple meaning Imperial. I believe Marina's family came from the Tsars.

 

[Odette]

I just pulled off the shelf the autobiography of Prince Nicholas of Greece (Brother of King Constantine and father of Marina) He married Grand Duchess Helen daughter of GD Vladimir of Russia. Marina was a pure royal and married a blue blooded royal so she was pertrubed when her brothers in law married commoners.....

 

[Al_bina]

That is true. Given the current tendencies, Princess Michael's ancestors tend to look appropriate for any royal house.

I meant purple meaning Imperial. I believe Marina's family came from the Tsars.

You are absolutely right. Princess Marina had a really pure blood...

 

[Warren]

It depends on which comital family a Countess came from. If they were mediatised (eg Princess Gloria Thurn und Taxis's family) they were - and still are - considered fully equal in the marriage stakes within the Austro-German royal and princely Houses.

Marie Christine has a noble lineage: her father was a German baron, her mother was Countess Maria Anna Szapáry von Muraszombath, Széchysziget und Szapár, and her maternal grandmother a Princess of Auersperg. In Central Europe the princely Auersperg and comital Szapáry families were 'big deal'.

Princess Marina may have held a high view of her own position, but it should be remembered that her husband's mother, Queen Mary, was considered to be a morgantic princess by the Gotha as her family, the Tecks, were the morganatic offshoot of the Royal House of Württemberg. Needless to say that Mary, Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India, had the last laugh.

The quote about Princess Michael (or Baroness Marie Christine von Reibnitz as she was at the time) claiming a higher pedigree than most entering the Royal Family was actually said by Lord Mountbatten to the Queen in jocular mode. Like so much of the gossip surrounding Princess Michael, the comment has since been attributed to her.

 

[Odette]

A Countess Szapary lived in one of the mansions in Newport RI. The mansion is open to tourists but she had her apartments in it. I somehow believe she was related to the Vanderbilts, but I could be wrong. I wonder if Ella visited her when she was studying at Brown U. and if she is related to Princess Michael.

 

[Menarue]

I just pulled off the shelf the autobiography of Prince Nicholas of Greece (Brother of King Constantine and father of Marina) He married Grand Duchess Helen daughter of GD Vladimir of Russia. Marina was a pure royal and married a blue blooded royal so she was pertrubed when her brothers in law married commoners.....

Odette you have just made me want to see "The Age of Innocence" again.
I wonder if I have it on DVD somewhere..... I must search immediately, when the urge comes on.......

 

[Warren]

A Countess Szapary lived in one of the mansions in Newport RI.

From Wiki:

Gladys Vanderbilt married Hungarian Count László Széchenyi on 27 January 1908 in New York.
Countess Széchenyi died in 1965. Her daughter, Countess Sylvia Szapáry maintained a residence at her grandparents' summer cottage, The Breakers until her death on March 1, 1998. Her first cousin was Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough.

 

[Odette]

From Wiki:

Gladys Vanderbilt married Hungarian Count László Széchenyi on 27 January 1908 in New York.
Countess Széchenyi died in 1965. Her daughter, Countess Sylvia Szapáry maintained a residence at her grandparents' summer cottage, The Breakers until her death on March 1, 1998. Her first cousin was Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough.

Thanks Warren.
When they refer to the Breakers as a "cottage" it cracks me up. It is a marble edifice built at the turn of the century and cost back then a couple of million dollars..........

 

[Odette]

Odette you have just made me want to see "The Age of Innocence" again.
I wonder if I have it on DVD somewhere..... I must search immediately, when the urge comes on.......

Enjoy yourself!!

 

[Russophile]

Okay, shameless plug for Greg King's new book "A Season of Splendor: the Court of Mrs. Astor in Gilded Age New York."
Amazon.com: A Season of Splendor: The Court of Mrs. Astor in Gilded Age New York: Greg King: Books
Menarue, that might satisfy your craving if you can't find the movie. . . .

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program. . . .
I know MC wrote one book, but did she write another? It seems that authoring things is a real popular way for the "Royal Wives" to get some income. . . .

 

[Al_bina]

So far Princess Michael wrote three books: , "Cupid and the King", and "Serpent and the Moon". She seems to be working on "Summer Princess: Winter Queen".
Other Titles by HRH Princess Michael of Kent
Given the fact that Princess Michael tends to generate negative publicity, I am not sure whether she can count on proceeds from writing. Moreover, "Crowned in a Far Country" was said to be plagiarized. This might diminish price of her work as well.

 

[Russophile]

I heard about that.
How else does she get her money?

 

[Al_bina]

I have heard about lectures. Well... again ... it is hard to tell how much she can earn delivering a lecture. I am sure the sums are not large.
About HRH Princess Michael of Kent

 

[Russophile]

I have heard about lectures. Well... again ... it is hard to tell how much she can earn delivering a lecture. I am sure the sums are not large.
About HRH Princess Michael of Kent

Oooh yeah. . .they're a bit dry subjects for the average lay person. . . .

 

[sophie25]

http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/defencenews/historyandhonour/tributespaidtobosniaveterans.htm

 

[Russophile]

Ministry of Defence | Defence News | History and Honour | Tributes paid to Bosnia veterans

Now was this an "official" engagement or did he just go?

 

[Susana]

She's a fascinating topic however I didn't think she WAS a princess but became one when they married. AND I've heard or read that they always have financial troubles even though she has supported their household through her very rewarding relationships with other men since the beginning. Of course she's beautiful and I'm encouraged to discover that I'm 3 years YOUNGER than she is and I'm just pea green with envy at her wealthy lifestyle and beauty. Bummer.

 

[Ella Kay]

She's a fascinating topic however I didn't think she WAS a princess but became one when they married.

Absolutely right -- she was born a Baroness, and only acquired the title of Princess when she married Prince Michael. Her father was a baron, and her mother was a countess. She's never been a princess in her own right the way Princess Anne or Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are.

 

[Monika_]

...and I'm just pea green with envy at her wealthy lifestyle and beauty. Bummer.

I admire a woman who's willing to admit it! ...and ditto!

 

[sophie25]

The Bosnia engagement seems to be "official" as one can see from the picture that she is being escorted by the Lord Lieutenant of that area and he only greets Royals on "official" business. Also it seems unlikley that the Royals wouldn't have a formal representative at such an event. I have noticed for some time that although it's always said that the Prince and Princess don't do official work they do sometimes.The State banquets they attend at Guildhall being another example.

 

[iceflower]

Pics 13.08.2008

Palma, Mallorca, Spain. 13-08-2008. Kent's Prince and Princess,
Michael of Kent and Marie Christine, visit the Pelaires Gallery
with Cristina Macaya.

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 **

 

[CarolinaLandgrave]

Prince Michael of Kent very much resembles his grandfather, King George V

 

[Mermaid1962]

And he seems to have quite a suntan!

Prince Michael of Kent very much resembles his grandfather, King George V

 

[julliette]

Princess Michael Of Kent
Visits the Joaquin Torrents Llado House Museum whilst on Holiday in Mallorca
Mallorca, Spain - 17.08.08

WENN Photo Library

 

[Russophile]

Palma, Mallorca, Spain. 13-08-2008. Kent's Prince and Princess,
Michael of Kent and Marie Christine, visit the Pelaires Gallery
with Cristina Macaya.

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 **

Is it me, or does Prince Michael look a bit frail? LIke he's aged quite a bit.
I'm not trying to be mean or anything, it just struck me and I'm wondering how old he is . . .that sort of thing.

 

[Incas]

I think the exceeding degree of tanning he seemed to have picked up gave him a sunken look around the eyes. It's kind of strange as he was photographed just a few weeks ago looking quite pale. Prince Michael and a camera shy blonde: Danish beauty is intriguing stand-in for Princess Pushy at ballet | Mail Online Honestly, i don't even know anyone can tan that quickly without severe amount of peeling visible.