Prince Michael of Kent has made a rare public appearance amid continuing concern for the health of his wife, Princess Michael of Kent, following reports earlier this year that she had suffered a stroke.
The late Queen’s cousin attended a ceremony at King’s College London on Tuesday, where he presented the Anglo-Hellenic League’s prestigious Runciman Award to writer Julian Hoffman for his book Lifelines: Searching for Home in the Mountains of Greece.
The engagement marked an uncommon public outing for the 83-year-old royal and comes months after Princess Michael, 81, was reported to be recovering from a series of serious health setbacks.
Friends previously claimed the princess, whose full name is Marie Christine von Reibnitz, had suffered a stroke and was confined to bed. The reports followed a difficult period during which she underwent heart surgery and suffered injuries after falling at Kensington Palace.
Against that backdrop, Prince Michael’s appearance at the literary awards ceremony was likely to be welcomed by royal watchers.
During the event, held in the Great Hall of King’s College London, the prince presented the £10,000 Runciman Award to Julian Hoffman for his acclaimed work Lifelines: Searching for Home in the Mountains of Greece.
The book, a blend of memoir and nature writing, explores life in the remote Prespa region of northern Greece, where the borders of Greece, Albania and North Macedonia meet.
Sofka Zinovieff, chair of the judging panel, described the work as “a remarkable work of literature”, praising its vivid depiction of both the natural world and rural life.
Accepting the award, Hoffman said the book had been nearly 25 years in the making and reflected the life he and his wife had built after leaving London for northern Greece.
“Books can, and do, change lives,” he said.
Professor Kevin Featherstone, chair of the Anglo-Hellenic League’s council, praised the winning book as “a wonderful evocation of a life transplanted from London to the mountains of northern Greece”.
The annual prize recognises English-language works focused on Greece or Hellenism and is named after the distinguished historian Sir Steven Runciman.
Prince Michael has long maintained an interest in Hellenic affairs and cultural organisations, making him a fitting presenter for the award.
