Prince Michael of Kent’s godfather was Franklin D. Roosevelt (Image: Getty)
King Charles has a relative who was named in part after a “heroic” former president of the United States. King Charles and Queen Camilla have embarked on their state visit to Washington DC to strengthen ties between the UK and US in the “special relationship” which is reflected in the Royal Family.
A president of the United States acted as godfather to Prince Michael of Kent, 83, a cousin of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who led the US from 1933 until his death in 1945, was one of eight godparents. Roosevelt is widely considered one of the United States’ great presidents for steering the country through the Great Depression and for acting heroically during World War 2.
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Prince and Princess Michael of Kent married in 1978 (Image: Getty)
Prince Michael’s full name includes a nod to the United States’ longest serving president. He is Prince Michael George Charles Franklin of Kent.
Born on July 4, 1942, Prince Michael is the third child of Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark and George, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary.
When Prince Michael was just over a month old, his father was killed in a plane crash, leaving behind his wife and two older children, Prince Edward, the current Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy.
Prince Michael’s christening place was a closely guarded secret because it was held in the middle of World War 2.
His godparents were King George VI, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, King Haakon VII of Norway, Frederica of Hanover, the Duke of Gloucester, the Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven and Lady Patricia Ramsay.
Prince Michael married Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz, daughter of Baron von Reibnitz and the former Countess Marianne Szapary, in Vienna in 1978.
They have two children, Lord Frederick Windsor and Lady Gabriella Windsor.
When he was born, Prince Michael was eighth in line to the throne. His marriage to Princess Michael of Kent, 81, led to his removal from the line of succession due to her Catholic faith.
But when the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 became law, he was reinstated. He is currently 50th in line to the throne.
While he does not carry out official royal duties on behalf of the monarch, Prince Michael supports a large number of charities and organisations.
He is President of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Patron of the Army Flying Museum, Patron of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce and of the Maritime Volunteer Service, to name a few.