Royal Watch News

Princess Michael of Kent's money struggle

May 12, 2009, 10:01 GMT

Britain's Princess Michael of Kent has admitted she is struggling for money.

The 63-year-old royal - who is married to Britain's Queen Elizabeth's cousin Prince Michael - says she can no longer afford the lavish lifestyle she is so used to and is having to cut back on expensive items.

Cat-lover Princess Michael attended the new London exhibition, Catgrafika, at the Partridge Fine Art gallery and was admiring a portrait of a feline by Mike Margolis.

She said: "Oh, I just love that! But sadly we could never afford it."

Last year, Princess Michael was left saddened by the planned changes to her former home.

She was reportedly shocked to discover the current owner of Nether Lypiatt Manor in Gloucestershire, Southwest England, plans to replace her beloved wall garden with a state-of-the-art giant greenhouse.

A close friend of Princess Michael said: "It is awful. But I suppose the owner doesn't want to play Marie Antoinette, looking for chicken eggs and clucking over piglets."

The royal personally designed the wall garden, which featured luxury pens to house exotic breeds of farm animals.

The 18th century country home - which is a Grade 1 listed building meaning it needs special planning permission for significant alterations - is now owned by businessman and Labour life peer Lord Drayson, who bought it from Prince Michael and Princess Michael for an estimated £5.5 million in 2006.