June 30, 1978

June 30, 1978 is the date that Prince Michael of Kent (born July 4, 1942) was married to Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz  (January 15, 1945). She was not just divorced but Roman Catholic when the civil ceremony took place. The Prince, a cousin of the Queen of England. had to give up his place in the succession to the English throne. The former baroness had to accept a clumsy new title: "Princess Michael of Kent," when the marriage took place. Prince Michael's wife has always irritated the Queen, since she has boasted about her own lineage dating back further than that of the current English monarchy. And that her children with Prince Michael got better grades in school than the Queen's children did.

But we digress, our point now is that Prince Michael, though he gets no income from the Queen for the royal duties he carries out, and even has to pay some rent for their apartment at Kensington Palace, has done an adequate job as a royal patron, and all at his own expense. He is for instance president or patron of these charities:

President of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
and The Kennel Club

Patron of 
Camp Jabulani, Kapama Game Reserve (South Africa) and
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, and also patron of theHarewood Bird Garden.

This list of course is partial.