Prince and Princess Michael of Kent 5: March-November 2008

[MAfan]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

"Prince and Princess Michael of Kent are to pay rent at a commercial rate for their Kensington Palace apartment for the first time, Buckingham Palace said today..."
'Princess Pushy' to pay £10,000 a month rent on Kensington Palace apartment for first time | Mail Online
Given the current economic situation, which may entail some financial hardships for the Royal family, this news comes as no surprise.

Why do they have to pay for the apartment?

[Al_bina]

Prince and Princess Michael pay a so-called "peppercorn rent" for their Kensigton apartment. Now they will be forced to pay a commercial rate for the above apartment.

... When it was claimed that the couple pay a rent of only £69 per week (although other sources state the figure as £76) for the use of their apartments at Kensington Palace, a committee of MPs demanded they be evicted. The British Monarchy Media Centre, however, refutes these controversial reports and states that, "The Queen is paying the rent for Prince and Princess Michael of Kent's apartment at a commercial rate of £120,000 annually from her own private funds. This rent payment by The Queen is in recognition of the Royal engagements and work for various charities which Prince and Princess Michael of Kent have undertaken at their own expense, and without any public funding." ...

Reference: NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Prince Michael of Kent

[angela]

I am so glad that they are going to be able to keep their home. A few years ago the Princess said in an interview that she and her husband had offered to pay a commercial rent rather than lose the house but that the Palace had said no to this and they would have to leave come what may in 2009. I am glad the Palace has changed it's mind and allowed them to stay under these conditions.

[Russophile]

Holy Schnikes! That's a pretty penny! 10K Pounds!

[pamk]

A lot of money, BUT when you consider the posh location of Kensington Palace and all: nice apartment, private garden, central location, 24-hour police guards on duty, etc. The equivalent in London would cost much more.
It's a pity that they gave up their beautiful country home because they could not afford both the Kensington Palace digs and the country home.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the Queen says that they will be paying the rent, but that she herself out of family duty will pony up most of the the money every month.
Prince Michael and his wife have pretty much behaved themselves (at least recently) and have stayed together - they do support the Queen - he is a marvelous representative overseas, fluent in several languages, Prince Michael is a real asset to the Royal Family.

[Russophile]

Yes, it has all the amenities and security, but Marie-Christine has made it a point to say they haven't a lot of money.

[iceflower]

Here's a nice old pic of the couple in 1983. They
attended the Badminton Horse Trials.

----> Prince and Princess Michael in 1983

[BeatrixFan]

Originally Posted by Russophile

Holy Schnikes! That's a pretty penny! 10K Pounds!

And the Queen should really point out that when most of her subjects are struggling to make ends meet it isn't wise for the minor Royals to be shouting about how hard they have it.

[angela]

I think it is very unfair that the Kents have been criticised so heavily for their virtually free use of KP over the years. To put it in perspective, they were given this apartment at a time when the Queen considered such a thing to be within her personal gift with no thought to the taxpayer. She cannot be so blase with regard to publicly owned buildings now but at the time no one thought there was anything odd about the Kents living there. As times moved on attitudes changed but it is not right to call them spongers anymore than it would be to criticise the Queen for exercising what she thought at the time was her right ie to provide a home for them in a State owned Palace. Although, it's interseting that no section of the media has dared to attck the Monarch for her role in this even though it is a central one. Instead the Kents are getting it in the neck as though they had simply took over their apartment with no permission from anyone. I think the Queen herself, to her credit, feels a bit annoyed about this too and that's why she is allowing them to remain there if possible.

[Menarue]

I remember a story that the Kents were rather annoyed when they were asked to exchange their apartment for a smaller one, I really can´t remember who it was for but I think it was for either Prince Charles,or perhaps Prince William and Prince Harry after their mother´s death, anyone remember this? Whether they moved or not at that time I can´t remember.
They are very minor royals so they can´t expect the Queen to pay for them to live in luxury forever. That is a lot of rent to pay though, I wonder if they can afford it.

[PrinceS]

Originally Posted by Menarue

They are very minor royals so they can´t expect the Queen to pay for them to live in luxury forever. That is a lot of rent to pay though, I wonder if they can afford it.

QEII will also be providing Prince Michael a pension. It would be interesting to know the amount of this annual salary. If it just happens to be the same amount as the annual rent to remain at Kensington Palace it sure seems like an ingenious solution to making good on her promise to allow the Kents to live rent free for life.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

And the Queen should really point out that when most of her subjects are struggling to make ends meet it isn't wise for the minor Royals to be shouting about how hard they have it.

I totally agree, that's just a LOT of money!!

[Al_bina]

The timing couldn't have been more immaculate. Amid all the financial turmoil, an unsolicited reminder from the Queen's aides that Prince Michael and his Teutonic wife, Marie Christine, will soon have to pay the full market rent to continue living in Kensington Palace.

How will Princess Pushy pay the £120,000-a-year rent on Kensington Palace apartment? | Mail Online

[giov]

Pics from IBL
Prince Michael of Kent Prince Michael of Kent Launches the Royal Nay Endurance Drive for Charity, Kensington Palace, London, Britain - 14 Oct 2008.
IBL
IBL
IBL
IBL

[rubies]

This is a very interesting story. I had always "assumed" that Prince Michael was wealthy from his beautiful wifes clothes and jewels. Living on some kind of family inheritance with a bonus from all the engagements they do. HMMM, I guess you just never know!!

[Al_bina]

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/4...ndparisir7.jpg
Miss Paris Hilton talks to Prince Michael. Prince Michael looked regal in the Chairman Mao-style jacket.

Reference:Paris finally finds her Prince after being snubbed by Wills and Harry... but alas, he's no spring chicken | Mail Online

[Russophile]

My goodness she tries too hard! That's one thing I don't like about our American heiresses, they are always trying too hard to get approval and attention of royalty. Sheesh!

[Al_bina]

They will soon be forced to foot the £120,000-a-year bill to live in their Kensington Palace home.But Prince and Princess Michael of Kent managed to put their money worries behind them during a trip to Rome.
Pictured: Prince Michael strolling hand in hand with... his wife | Mail Online

[iceflower]

Thanks a lot for sharing that article link, Al_bina.

I like those two pics very much, well-dressed tourists are
rare to see . No, but it's nice to see them so close and
so normal like any other tourist