Mikhail Kravchenko, Russian tycoon friend of Princess Michael of Kent, shot dead in Moscow Simon Astaire, a spokesman for the Kents, told a newspaper: "Prince and Princess Michael of Kent are very distressed to hear of this tragedy." Mr Kravchencko was pictured holding hands with the princess, 67, during a holiday in Venice six years ago. The princess spoke about their relationship in an interview with Hello! magazine. She said: "The true nature of our relationship is that it is a very good friendship. I hold hands with all my friends. I don't think that's being intimate at all. I'm a very tactile person - I do it all the time. Mr Kravchenko also denied claims of an affair, saying: "We (the princess and I) have just normal human relations. We are friends.