COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

The Duke of York this morning received Mr Peter Bateman (Her Majesty’s Ambassador (designate) to the Republic of Azerbaijan).

His Royal Highness this afternoon gave a Luncheon at Buckingham Palace for the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.

The Duke of York later attended a Meeting of Fellows of the Royal Society and subsequently attended a Round Table with Royal Society Research Fellows (University Research Fellows and Dorothy Hodgkins Research Fellows) at the Society, 6 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1.

Buckingham Palace

The Earl of Wessex, Trustee, this morning attended a Regional Advisory Board Meeting of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Foundation at Great Rift Valley Lodge, Lake Naivasha, Nairobi, Kenya.

His Royal Highness, Trustee, later attended an International Council Meeting of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Foundation at Great Rift Valley Lodge.

The Earl of Wessex, Trustee, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Foundation, this evening attended a “Bush” Dinner at Great Rift Valley Lodge.

The Countess of Wessex this morning opened Drayton Manor Hotel, Drayton Manor Theme Park, near Tamworth, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire (Sir James Hawley).

Her Royal Highness this afternoon opened the new shelter at the National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road, Alrewas, Staffordshire.

The Countess of Wessex afterwards visited the Elford Walled Garden, Elford Estate, Tamworth Street, Elford, Staffordshire.

Her Royal Highness later laid a wreath at the Samuel Parkes VC Wigginton War Memorial, Wigginton, Tamworth.

Buckingham Palace

The Princess Royal this morning opened Stockton Carers’ Centre at the George Hardwick Foundation, Wellington Street, Stockton-on-Tees, and was received by Mr Alasdair MacConachie (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham).

Her Royal Highness, Patron, the Butler Trust, later visited Durham Youth Offending Service at County Hall, Durham, County Durham.

The Princess Royal, Patron, the Butler Trust, this afternoon visited HM Prison Durham, Old Elvet, County Durham.

Her Royal Highness later named the new Newcastle University Research Vessel The Princess Royal at Quayside Pontoon, Newcastle upon Tyne, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear (Mr Nigel Sherlock).

The Princess Royal subsequently visited the Norcare Veterans’ Centre, 87 Bentinck Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, and was received by Lieutenant General Robin Brims (Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear).

Her Royal Highness this evening attended a Reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to commemorate the Four Hundredth Anniversary of the Society of High Constables of Edinburgh and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh (Councillor George Grubb, the Rt Hon the Lord Provost).

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester, Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Anglian Regiment, this morning visited 2nd Battalion at Alexander Barracks, Dhekelia, Cyprus.

His Royal Highness, Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Anglian Regiment, this afternoon visited 3rd Battalion at the Ledra Palace Hotel, Nicosia, and subsequently attended a Dinner.

Thatched House Lodge, Richmond Park

Princess Alexandra, Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, The Queen’s Royal Lancers, was represented by Major General Andrew Cumming at the Memorial Service for Lieutenant Colonel Valentine ffrench Blake (formerly Commanding Officer, 17th/21st Lancers), which was held in the Royal Memorial Chapel Sandhurst, Camberley, Surrey, today.