Princess Michael of Kent

The peril-fraught life of a British ""royal'' is painstakingly detailed in this biography of the news-making wife of the Duke of Kent, cousin of Queen Elizabeth. Controversial from the moment of her royal marriage because she was divorced, a European baroness and therefore a ``foreigner,'' and a Catholic as well, Princess Michael coped with disfavor of church and state. Recently, she made headlines with the revelation of her father's purported membership in the Nazi party. Her penchant for personal publicity has led to reports of strain within the royal enclave. All of this is explored, evaluated and generally discounted in the princess's favor by Hunt, a royal biographer (Prince Philip; The Queen Mother. Royalty watchers will enjoy the book's intimate glimpses of the titled aristocracy. (March 21)