According to a Sunday Times and Channel 4 story, Prince Michael of Kent was able to use his royal position for personal gain and provide ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime.

Undercover reporters posing as South Korean businessmen reportedly informed Prince Michael of Kent that he could be recruited for £10,000 a day to render “confidential” representations to the Russian president’s team.

The investigation also revealed that the prince’s associate, the Marquess of Reading, referred to him as “Her Majesty’s unofficial ambassador to Russia.”

Michael could be employed for 10,000 pounds ($14,000) a day to make “confidential” representations to Putin on behalf of the fictional gold company, House of Haedong, as per the royal’s business associate, Simon Reading.

“If he (Prince Michael) is representing the House of Haedong, he could mention that to Putin and Putin would find the right person who is interested in South Korea or interested in gold,” Reading is quoted as saying. “It just opens the door, you know, which is so helpful.”

The allegations have been refuted by the prince, who is 78 years old.

During the secretly filmed session, the marquess “made suggestions which Prince Michael would not have wanted, or been able, to fulfil” according to his spokesperson.

“As is standard practice, Prince Michael’s private secretary made it clear to the company’s representatives during their conversations that nothing could proceed without the agreement of the British Embassy and the help of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce, of which Prince Michael is patron,” they said.

Michael’s office maintained that he had no “special relationship” with Putin and that he hadn’t spoken to him or his staff since they last met in June 2003.

The marquess said in a statement that he made an error and “over-promised” at the meeting, and that he was “truly regretful.”

Prince Michael and his wife, Princess Michael of Kent, aren’t working royals and don’t collect any public funds, although they do have certain public responsibilities, such as representing the queen at events. According to the monarchy’s website, Michael has previously represented the queen at state funerals in India, Cyprus, and Swaziland.

According to the prince’s profile on the Royal Family website, he is “connected to Russia through his maternal grandmother” and has “a strong interest in the country”

He “became the first member of the Royal Family to learn Russian, ultimately qualifying as a Russian interpreter” according to his biography.

According to the Royal Family website, they attended about 200 engagements a year prior to the pandemic.

According to a spokesperson for the prince, he makes a living from a long-established consulting firm, and the couple pays market rent and fees for their residence at Kensington Palace.

His father, Prince George, was George V’s fourth son and the Queen’s older brother, George VI.

The marquess later sent an email to the reporters, according to the newspaper, that suggested he may have regretted being too open about the prince and Russia.

According to the email, any agreement would be subject to the approval of the prince’s advisors to ensure that all was in order.