Prince Michael entered the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in January 1961 and was commissioned into the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert’s Own) in 1963.

He saw service in Germany, Hong Kong and Cyprus where his squadron formed part of the UN peacekeeping force in 1971.

Subsequent tours of duty, during a military career that spanned twenty years, included a number of appointments on the Defence Intelligence Staff.

In 1994, Prince Michael was made Honorary Commodore of the re-structured Royal Naval Reserve. In June 2004, he was promoted to Honorary Rear Admiral of the Royal Naval Reserve.

In 2012 he was made Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Benson.

Prince Michael is President of SSAFA (Soldiers', Sailors' & Airmen's Families' Association) Forces Help and President of the Royal Patriotic Fund. His Royal Highness is Colonel-in-Chief of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment in Canada.