COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

His Excellency Mr. Pekka Huhtaniemi was received in audience by The Queen today and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Republic of Finland to the Court of St. James’s.

Mrs. Liisa Huhtaniemi was also received by Her Majesty.

Her Excellency Ms. Nicola Clase was received in audience by The Queen and presented the Letters of Recall of her predecessor and her own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Kingdom of Sweden to the Court of St. James’s.

Dr. Andrew Schenkel was also received by Her Majesty.

Mr. Simon Fraser (Permanent Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) was present.

His Excellency Mr. Anthony Johnson was received by The Queen on his appointment as High Commissioner for Jamaica in London.

Mrs. Johnson was also received by Her Majesty.

Lady Black was received by The Queen and delivered up the Insignia of the Order of Merit worn by her husband, the late Sir James Black.

The Lord Fellowes (Secretary and Registrar of the Order of Merit) was in attendance.

The Rt. Hon. Mark Francois MP (Vice Chamberlain of the Household) was received in audience by The Queen and presented an Address from the House of Commons to which Her Majesty was graciously pleased to make reply.

Buckingham Palace

The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, today carried out the following engagements in Vietnam.

His Royal Highness this morning opened Savills’ Hanoi office.

The Duke of York this afternoon attended a Roundtable Meeting with representatives from the Urban Development, Real Estate and Construction sectors, Laurence S. Ting Building, Ho Chi Minh City.

His Royal Highness later called upon the Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.

The Duke of York this evening attended a Reception for the British community given by Her Majesty’s Consul General for Ho Chi Minh City at the British Consulate-General.

His Royal Highness afterwards attended a Dinner at the Park Hyatt Hotel for representatives of the British and Vietnamese Financial Services sectors.

Buckingham Palace

The Earl of Wessex, Vice Patron, the Commonwealth Games Federation, this morning viewed the Rugby 7s Match at Delhi University, Delhi, India.

His Royal Highness, Vice Patron, the Commonwealth Games Federation, today viewed the Weightlifting Finals and presented the Powerlifting Bench Press Open Medals at the JN Sports Complex, Delhi.

The Earl of Wessex, Vice Patron, the Commonwealth Games Federation, this afternoon viewed the Gymnastics Competition at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Delhi.

His Royal Highness, Vice Patron, the Commonwealth Games Federation, this evening attend a Reception and Dinner for the England Team at the Residence of the British High Commissioner in Delhi.

The Countess of Wessex, Patron, Vision 2020: the Right to Sight, this morning attended a Meeting of the World Health Organisation with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness at the World Health Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland.

Her Royal Highness later arrived at Heathrow Airport, London, from Switzerland.

Mrs Suzanne Lofthouse-Jackson was in attendance.

Buckingham Palace

The Princess Royal, President, Save the Children UK, this morning received Mr. Justin Forsyth upon assuming his appointment as Chief Executive.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Wooden Spoon Society, this afternoon attended a Fairplay Results Showcase at Middlesbrough Rugby Club, Acklam Park, Green Lane, Middlesbrough, and was received by Mr. Peter Scrope (Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire).

The Princess Royal, Patron, College of Occupational Therapists, later opened Centuria South Building at Teesside University School of Health and Social Care, Borough Road, Middlesbrough.

The Princess Royal, President, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, this evening attended a Dinner in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester this morning presented The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to Hampshire and Thames Valley Circles at St. Aldates Parish Centre, 40 Pembroke Street, Oxford, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire (Mr. Timothy Stevenson).

His Royal Highness afterwards opened Wootton and Dry Sandford Community Centre, Lamborough Hill, Wooton, Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

The Duke of Gloucester this afternoon opened Abingdon Resource and Wellbeing Centre, Audlett Drive, Abingdon.

His Royal Highness, Patron, the Japan Society, this evening attended a Reception at Clifford Chance, 10 Upper Bank Street, London E14.

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent this morning officially opened the new factory at Wade Ceramics, Festival Park, Stoke on Trent, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire (Sir James Hawley).

His Royal Highness this afternoon opened the new manufacturing facility and training centre at F. Ball and Company Limited, Churnetside Business Park, Station Road, Cheddleton, Leek.

The Duke of Kent later visited Goodwin International Limited, Plantation Road, Newstead Industrial Estate, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent.

His Royal Highness, Honorary Liveryman, the Worshipful Company of Engineers, this evening attended a Court Meeting and Dinner at Wax Chandlers’ Hall, Chesham Street, London EC2.