Prince Michael visits
Catford Girls School,
London in Feb 2003

The Prince devotes a high proportion of his time to the support of a large number of non-profit-making charities, institutes, trade associations, societies and health organisations, despite the commitments of his business. These range from The Kennel Club to the Children’s Fire and Burn Trust, the Maritime Volunteer Service and the World Monuments Fund in Britain.

Left: Prince Michael with children from Bishop Gilpin School, Wimbledon at Brooklands Museum

Right: Prince Michael at the SSAFA stand at Crufts 2005

As well as being Commonwealth President of the Royal Life Saving Society, Prince Michael is President of the Royal Automobile Club, and Patron of the National Eye Research Centre and the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation among many other such organisations. His Fellowships include those of the Institute of the Motor Industry, the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institute of Linguists. He is also Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons and Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex.

Left: Prince Michael visits the Speransky Hospital, Moscow, as Patron of the Children’s Fire & Burn Trust- June 2003. Photograph © David Chancellor

Right: Prince Michael visits the Amputee Rehabilitation Centre at Queen Mary’s Hospital Roehampton, Nov 2000

A keen sportsman, Prince Michael represented the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in rowing, and was part of the team that won the Maiden Fours at Bedford in 1961. He is now Patron of the Thames Rowing Club. Prince Michael represented Great Britain as a bobsleigh driver for many years and was a reserve for the 1972 Olympics.

As a vintage car enthusiast, he was part of the team in 1992 that broke the 1,000-mile record for cars over 5,000cc in a 1929 Bentley Special. A competitive rally driver, he is also a qualified pilot of both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Some of his Presidencies, such as those of the Motor Sports Association, the Brooklands Museum Trust and the Popular Flying Association reflect these personal leisure-time interests of the Prince.

Left: Prince Michael drives a vintage Bentley on a Rally from Brooklands Museum to Moscow to raise funds for the Children’s Fire and Burn Trust. Photograph © David Chancellor Right: Photograph © David Chancellor