HRH PRINCESS MICHAEL OF KENT
Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent is the younger child of the late Baron Günther von Reibnitz and his wife, the late Marianne, née Countess Szapary. She was born at Carlsbad in Bohemia on the estate of her maternal grandmother Princess Hedwig Windisch-Graetz. Her Royal Highness descends from ancient European lineage on both sides of her family. Having lived in Austria and Australia and travelled throughout Africa where her father farmed, the princess moved to London to continue her historical studies including the history of the Fine and Decorative Arts. While in London, she met His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, a first cousin of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The couple married in Vienna in 1978 and have two children, Lord Frederick (26) who read Classics at Magdalen, Oxford, then Law, and Lady Gabriella Windsor (24) who read Comparative Literature at Brown University, Providence R.I. Their Royal Highnesses carry out a great number of public and charitable duties and also have the Queen’s permission to earn their livelihood. They live in an apartment in Kensington Palace and at Nether Lypiatt Manor, their 17th century country house in Gloucestershire.
Her Royal Highness has an abiding love of history and the arts and with such a background, it is not surprising that since her marriage she has written three historical books, which were translated worldwide: Crowned in a Far Country: Eight Royal Brides (Weidenfeld), Cupid and the King: Five Royal Paramours (HarperCollins) and her most recent, The Serpent and the Moon: Two Rivals for the Love of a Renaissance King (Simon & Schuster). Simon & Schuster are re-issuing Cupid and the King to include a new chapter in spring 2006 and “Crowned in a Far Country” later in the year. Her Royal Highness is currently working on “Elizabeth Stuart: Summer Princess, Winter Queen” a life of Charles I’s sister, and her first historical novel “Agnes Sorel and the Jack of Hearts”, a 15th century murder mystery.
It was the success of her books that stimulated international interest in Princess Michael to give lectures on her specialist subjects, initially speaking to the French Institute. For over ten years, she served on the Board of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and for the past fifteen years has pursued a successful lecture career, speaking on various historical subjects at museums and universities worldwide speaking in about twenty venues each year.
Princess Michael's other great love is animals, in particular horses, which she rides and breeds with interest and enthusiasm. Her Royal Highness is the patron of many charities and organizations including the welfare of children, the arts and the protection of endangered species.
http://www.princessmichael.com
