COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

His Excellency Mr Hatem Atallah 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 Tunisia to the Court of St James’s.

Mrs Atallah was also received by Her Majesty.

His Excellency Mr Abdulla Ali Al-Radhi was received in audience by The Queen and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from Yemen to the Court of St James’s.

Mrs Bilqis Ali Al-Hadheri was also received by Her Majesty.

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

The Queen received the Bishop of Rochester (the Right Reverend James Langstaff) who did homage upon his appointment.

The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke MP (Lord Chancellor) administered the Oath.

The Bishop of Guildford (Clerk of the Closet) was in attendance.

The following members of Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms were received by The Queen: Colonel Sir William Mahon Bt who delivered up his Stick of Office upon his retirement as Standard Bearer and Major Michael Webster who received his Stick of Office upon his appointment as Standard Bearer.

The Rt Hon David Cameron MP (Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury) had an audience of The Queen this evening.

Clarence House

The Prince of Wales, President, The Prince’s Youth Business International, and President, The Prince’s Teaching Institute, this morning attended Charity Day at Icap plc, 2 Broadgate, London EC2.

His Royal Highness, President, Business in the Community, this afternoon received Mr John O’Brien (Managing Director, Mosaic).

The Prince of Wales, President, The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment and King’s Fund, this afternoon held a Seminar and Reception for “Inspiring Design for End of Life Care” at Clarence House.

His Royal Highness, President, subsequently held a Meeting for The Prince’s Drawing School.

The Prince of Wales later received the Bishop of London (the Right Reverend Richard Chartres) and senior religious leaders from Nigeria.

His Royal Highness, President, The Prince’s Teaching Institute, this evening held a Dinner at St James’s Palace.

The Duchess of Cornwall, President, National Osteoporosis Society, this evening attended a Concert “A Celebration of Christmas” in Bath Abbey, 12 Kingston Buildings, Bath, followed by a Reception in the Pump Room, Roman Baths, Abbey Church Yard, Bath, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset (Lady Gass).

St James’s Palace

Prince William of Wales, Patron, SkillForce, this morning attended the Charity Day at Icap plc, 2 Broadgate, London EC2.

Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex this morning departed Farnborough Airport for Monchengladbach, Germany.

Her Royal Highness this afternoon visited the Joint Headquarters Youth Centre, Wellington Road, Rheindahlen, and met young people from British Forces Germany participating in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

The Countess of Wessex, Royal Colonel, 5th Battalion The Rifles, later arrived at Paderborn Airport.

Her Royal Highness, Royal Colonel, 5th Battalion The Rifles, this evening attended the Families’ Christingle Service in Abdinghof Church, Paderborn.

The Countess of Wessex, Royal Colonel, 5th Battalion The Rifles, later attended a Dinner at Epsom House, Sennelager, given by Brigadier Patrick Sanders (Commander, 20th Armoured Brigade).

Mrs Rosemary Hamer is in attendance.

Buckingham Palace

The Princess Royal, Patron, Townswomen’s Guilds, this afternoon attended the Northern Annual National Carol Service in Chester Cathedral and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire (Mr David Briggs).

Her Royal Highness, President, the Mission to Seafarers, this evening attended a Carol Service and Reception in St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill, London EC4.

Buckingham Palace

The Duke of Gloucester, Grand Prior, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, this morning attended a Meeting with the Prior of the United States of America (Mr Alfred Marshall Acuff) at the University Club, One West 54th Street, New York, United States of America.

His Royal Highness, Grand Prior, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, today attended a Luncheon at the Union Club, 101 East 69th Street, New York.

The Duke of Gloucester, Patron, St George’s Society of New York, this evening attended a Reception for the Officers and Directors of the Society at 898 Park Avenue, New York.

The Duchess of Gloucester, Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Army Dental Corps, this evening attended the Army Medical Services Carol Service in the Royal Garrison Church of All Saints, Farnborough Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, followed by a Reception at the Royal Garrison Church Hall, Farnborough Road.