Royal rendezvous

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Britain''s Prince Michael of Kent talks shop on his passage to India</span><br /><br /></div> <div align="right" style="position:relative; left: -3"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="right" border="0" width="43.2%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" e0e0e0=""> <div class="Normal" style="" text-align:="" center=""><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Family ties</span></div> <div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Prince Michael of Kent was eighth in line to the British throne at the time of his birth.However the Prince lost his right of succession, under the 1701 Act of Settlement, following his marriage to Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz who is a Roman Catholic. His children, Lord Frederick Windsor and Lady Gabriella Windsor however, still have a claim to the throne</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">When two rally enthusiasts meet, they talk not just speed, but style as well. At least that was the case when Britain''s HRH Prince Michael of Kent met Gautam Singhania in Mumbai on Wednesday. The vintage car enthusiast Prince who was a competitive rally driver mixed sport and shop talk with Singhania during this passage to India. "I don''t compete any longer, but I''d love to see the rally circuit in India," he told BT. <br /><br />Prince Michael was in Mumbai on the invitation of the World Luxury Council. "India is the most exciting market to watch," he said. "There''s a tremendous interest in the Indian design, crafts, jewellery industries. Globally, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) can benefit through cross marketing. Britain has a lot of SMEs (some of whom are of Indian origin) and this is a move to get them and to interact with the best on the global circuit." <br /><br />Having been to India many times before on personal visits, (having honeymooned in Rajasthan and having travelled across Ranthambore and Kerala), the Prince says that he will take some off to catch up with friends in the city. Meanwhile, the tabloids have recorded delicious society whispers of another tenuous Indian connection -- his daughter Lady Gabriella Windsor is said to be dating Aatish Tasveer, who''s of Indian origin. But protocol zipped those issues effectively on this visit. <br /><br />The Prince who bears a striking resemblance to the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, however, was more willing to talk about his Russian connection. He has said that he will always have an emotional bond with the country, being connected to the Romanovs through his grandmother, the Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna. "After the recent tragedy in Ukraine, our childrens'' trusts were able to provide help to those affected." What role does a royal play in egalitarian times? Britain has had a love-hate relationship with the royals -- on the one hand chasing them with the persistence of the paparazzi and on the other, raising debates on whether they need a royal tax burden. An almost-raised eye brow and a shrug later, Prince Michael smiles, "I do everything I can. Right now I''m here on business and as for all the media attention, if they''re interested in focussing on work, well, I''m glad. One takes it as it comes." <br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic=""><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></span></div> </div>