Rome, August 2017. The Secretariat of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies in Rome has announced that HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO has been appointed by the Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Castro, to the rank and dignity of Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I in recognition of his work in sustainable developments.
The Royal Order of Francis I is granted to those who distinguish themselves in the field of sciences, arts, diplomacy and inter-religious understanding. His Royal Highness joins many prominent knights and dames of the Order worldwide including 14 heads of state and numerous cardinals and archbishops in addition to former British prime minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher, two past archbishops of Canterbury, UN Secretary General HE Ban Ki Moon, David Rockefeller Jr., and three Nobel Peace Prize winners: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former Costa Rican President Oscar Sanchez and Rigoberta Menchú.
Prince Michael of Kent was educated at Sunningdale School and then at Eton College. In 1961 he entered the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and was commissioned into the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert’s Own) in 1963. His Royal Highness is a first cousin to both HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince Michael is married to Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz, who as HRH Princess Michael of Kent, was invested as a Dame Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George in April 1996 and has continuously supported the work of our internationally recognised religious and charitable Order.
His Royal Highness has devoted much of his time supporting a large number of charities, institutes, the military, trade associations, bilateral societies and health organisations including those associated with the Catholic Church such as The Passage homeless charity.
To learn more about His Royal Highness please visit his website.