COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh today visited South Yorkshire and were received at Sheffield Railway Station this morning by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire (Mr. David Moody).

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness drove to the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, and were received by the Chancellor of the University of Sheffield (Sir Peter Middleton) and the Lord Mayor of Sheffield City Council (Councillor Alan Law).

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh toured the laboratories, escorted respectively by Professor Pamela Shaw (Head of Department of Neuroscience, the University of Sheffield) and Professor Paul Ince (Professor of Neuropathology, Motor Neurone Disease), viewing the facilities and meeting patients and their families and members of staff.

Her Majesty, accompanied by His Royal Highness, subsequently officially opened the Institute.

The Queen afterwards visited Sheffield Cathedral and was received by The Bishop of Sheffield (the Right Reverend Dr. Steven Croft) and the Dean (the Very Reverend Peter Bradley).

Her Majesty viewed singing rehearsals and met children and their parents and volunteers before viewing a musical performance.

The Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the new factory for Gripple at the Hog Works, Hawke Street, Sheffield, was received by Dr. Giles Bloomer (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire) and presented The Queen’s Award for Enterprise to the Managing Director.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were entertained to Luncheon at Firth Court, the University of Sheffield, this afternoon by the Chancellor of the University of Sheffield.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness later visited the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing and Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Wallis Way, Catcliffe, and were received by Professor M. Hounslow (Pro-Vice Chancellor of Engineering) and the Mayor of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (Councillor Rose McNeely).

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh toured the factory, escorted respectively by Professor Keith Ridgeway (Research Director) and Mr. Adrian Allen (Commercial Director) and met apprentices before being given a short presentation on the Centre’s history and future developments.

Her Majesty, accompanied by His Royal Highness, subsequently cut the first sod of the site of the new building using the virtual reality system.

Clarence House

The Prince of Wales this afternoon held a Conference at Clarence House on the role of agriculture in avoiding deforestation.

His Royal Highness later visited the “Jainpedia” exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London (Sir David Brewer).

The Prince of Wales afterwards visited the Ismaili Centre, 1 Cromwell Gardens, London SW7.

His Royal Highness subsequently attended a Meeting on proposed solutions from the private sector to reduce agricultural expansion into rainforests, at the Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1.

The Prince of Wales, President, The Prince’s Youth Business International, this evening attended a Dinner at St. James’s Palace.

The Duchess of Cornwall, Honorary Air Commodore, Royal Air Force Halton, this morning received Group Captain Garry Tunnicliffe upon relinquishing his appointment as Station Commander and Group Captain Christine Elliot upon assuming the appointment.

Her Royal Highness later received Officers of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.

The Duchess of Cornwall this afternoon visited the Highgrove Shop, Milsom Street, Bath, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset (Lady Gass).

Her Royal Highness afterwards attended a Civic Reception at the Guildhall, High Street, Bath.

The Duchess of Cornwall later switched on the Christmas lights in Bath.

Her Royal Highness this evening attended a Reception at the Roman Baths, Abbey Church Yard, Bath.

Buckingham Palace

The Earl of Wessex this morning opened Fred Perry House at Stockport Civic Building, Lacy Street, Stockport, and was received by Mr. Warren Smith (Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester).

His Royal Highness, Trustee, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, afterwards visited Stockport Grammar School, Buxton Road, Stockport.

The Earl of Wessex later visited Stockport Plaza, Mersey Square, Stockport.

His Royal Highness, Patron, this afternoon visited Chetham’s School of Music, Long Millgate, Manchester.

The Earl of Wessex, Patron, this evening attended a performance by the Royal Exchange Theatre Company at the Royal Exchange Theatre, St. Ann’s Square, Manchester.

Buckingham Palace

The Princess Royal, President, the Caribbean — Canada Emerging Leaders Dialogue, this morning held a Meeting at Buckingham Palace.

Her Royal Highness, President, Royal Yachting Association, this afternoon attended a Luncheon followed by an Awards Ceremony and Annual General Meeting at the Institute of Engineers, One Great George Street, London SW1.

The Princess Royal this evening held a Dinner for St. Dunstan’s, at Buckingham Palace.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester, Grand Prior, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, this afternoon held an Investiture of Knights and Dames of the Order at the Priory Church of St. John, Clerkenwell, London EC1.

The Duchess of Gloucester this morning arrived at St. Pancras International Station, London, from Belgium.

Mrs. Michael Wigley was in attendance.

Thatched House Lodge, Richmond Park

Princess Alexandra, Colonel-in-Chief, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, this afternoon received Colonel Paul Hughes (Honorary Colonel), Lieutenant Colonel Richard Cowling (Honorary Lieutenant Colonel), Lieutenant Colonel John Fortheringham (Commanding Officer) and Chief Warrant Officer Shaun Kelly (Regimental Sergeant Major) at Buckingham Palace.

Her Royal Highness, Royal Patron, the Chopin Society 2010, this evening attended a Gala Evening at Guildhall, Gresham Street, London EC2, to celebrate the Bicentenary of Chopin’s birth.