Key Appointments
- Colonel-in-Chief - His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, GVCO, CD
- Honorary Colonel - Michael Robinson
- Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel - vacant
- Commanding Officer - Lieutenant-Colonel Chris van den Berg, CD
- Deputy Commanding Officer- Major Sean Wilkins, CD
- Regimental Sergeant Major - Chief Warrant Officer Jeremy Barnwell, CD
- Pipe Major - Sergeant Alex Rocheleau
- Regimental Major - Major (Retired) Greg Childs, CD, ESM
HRH Prince Michael of Kent, GVCO, CD
Prince Michael entered the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in January 1961 and was commissioned into the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert’s Own), a cavalry regiment in the British Army, 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.
A keen sportsman, Prince Michael represented the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in rowing, and was part of the team that won the Maiden Fours at Bedford in 1961. He is now Patron of the Thames Rowing Club. Prince Michael represented Great Britain as a bobsleigh driver for many years and was a reserve for the 1972 Olympics. As a vintage car enthusiast, he was part of the team in 1992 that broke the 1,000-mile record for cars over 5,000cc in a 1929 Bentley Special. A competitive rally driver, he is also a qualified pilot of both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
Prince Michael of Kent has been Colonel-in-Chief of the Essex and Kent Scottish since 14 November 2001. He first visited his Regiment in Canada in March 2002 with subsequent visits in October 2007 and June 2009. He also attended with unit members at Dieppe, France in August 2012 for the 70th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid. On 19 October 2015 in London, UK he was presented with his Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) for 12 years of service in the Canadian Forces by LCol J. Hodgins. His appointment follows that of his father HRH Prince George, Duke of Kent (1937-1942) and his mother HRH Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (1942-1968).
Prince Michael married Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz in Vienna in 1978. Their son Lord Frederick Windsor is an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, and their daughter Lady Gabriella Windsor is a Writer.
Visit His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent online at https://princemichael.org.uk/.
Honorary Colonel Michael Robinson, CD
Biographical information is not available at this time.
Lieutenant Colonel Chris van den Berg, CD
Biographical information is not available at this time.
Major Sean Wilkins, CD
Biographical information is not available at this time.
Chief Warrant Officer Jeremy Barnwell, CD
Biographical information is not available at this time.
Pipe Major (Sgt) Alex Rocheleau
Biographical information is not available at this time.
Major (Retired) Greg T. Childs, CD, ESM
Born and raised in Chatham, Ontario Major Childs attended the John McGregor Secondary School, joining their Cadet Corps at an early age. On the recommendation of his father, an Essex Scottish WWII veteran, he joined The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment (E&K Scot). As a Master Warrant Officer, he joined the Regular Army with the rank of Lieutenant for a limited engagement, then transferred back into E&K Scot. Major Childs has held the appointments of Platoon Commander, Company Commander, Regimental Major and Deputy Commanding Officer. For many years he was the CO's representative on the Regimental Association Board of Directors. Major Childs has completed 44 years of service with E&K Scot and retired in August 2010.
After 33 years service, he is a retired Detective from London Police Force as a Forensic Identification expert investigating homicides and other major crimes. He was a bomb-disposal Sergeant for 20 years, instructing frequently at the Canadian Police College. Police Sergeant Childs was the protocol officer for London Police.
He is married with two adult children.