COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, travelled in State to the Palace of Westminster today to open the Session of Parliament.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness drove in a Carriage Procession, escorted by a Sovereign’s Escort of The Household Cavalry, under the command of Major Simon Deverell, The Blues and Royals, and were received at the Sovereign’s Entrance by the Earl Marshal and the Lord Great Chamberlain.

Guards of Honour were mounted at Buckingham Palace by The Queen’s Guard found by 1st Battalion Irish Guards, under the command of Major Tom Oakley, and at the Palace of Westminster by 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, under the command of Major James Coleby.

A staircase party of The Household Cavalry was on duty at Victoria Tower, House of Lords.

Royal Salutes were fired in Green Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, under the command of Major Mark Edward, and from the Tower of London Saluting Battery by the Honourable Artillery Company, under the command of Major Michael Joy.

The Imperial State Crown, the Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of State were conveyed previously to the House of Lords in a Carriage Procession, escorted by a Regalia Escort of The Household Cavalry.

Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms was on duty in the Prince’s Chamber and The Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard was on duty in the Royal Gallery.

The Queen’s Bargemaster and Watermen were on duty.

The Ladies and Gentlemen of the Household and the Pages of Honour to The Queen (Lord Stanley, Andrew Leeming, Arthur Chatto and the Hon Charles Armstrong-Jones) were in attendance at the Palace of Westminster.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness returned to Buckingham Palace and were received by the Lord Chamberlain and the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household.

Fortune, Duchess of Grafton was received by The Queen this afternoon and delivered up the Badge and Star of the Order of the Garter worn by her husband, the late Duke of Grafton.

Clarence House

The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay this morning visited Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh.

The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, accompanied by The Duchess of Rothesay, today took the Salute at an Armed Forces Parade, Canongate, Edinburgh, in support of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and subsequently gave a Reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

His Royal Highness, President, Scottish Business in the Community, this afternoon led a Thirtieth Anniversary “Seeing is Believing” visit to Craigroyston Community High School, Pennywell Road, Edinburgh.

The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay later received the Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP (First Minister of Scotland).

His Royal Highness, President, this evening attended Scottish Business in the Community’s Thirtieth Anniversary Dinner and Awards at the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh.

The Duchess of Rothesay this morning received school children competing in the British Food Fortnight’s Cook for The Queen competition at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Her Royal Highness this afternoon visited Capital Credit Union, 62 Hamilton Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh.

Buckingham Palace

The Duke of York, Patron, The Duke of York’s Sports Foundation, today attended the Foundation’s Golf Day at Swinley Forest Golf Club, Ascot, Berkshire.

His Royal Highness gave a Tea this afternoon for members of the UK-UAE CEO Forum.

The Duke of York, Patron, Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel Trust, this evening attended a Dinner onboard HMS Victory, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex, Colonel-in-Chief, Corps of Army Music, this morning held a Meeting.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, this afternoon visited Debra House and Debra Charity Shop, 13 Wellington Business Park, Dukes Ride, Crowthorne, Berkshire.

Buckingham Palace

The Princess Royal this afternoon opened the Riverside Resource Recovery Energy from Waste Facility at Cory Environmental Limited, Norman Road, Belvedere, Kent, and was received by Major David Hewer (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

The Princess Royal, Patron, Whitley Fund for Nature, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, this evening attended the Annual Awards Ceremony and Reception at the Royal Geographical Society, Kensington Gore, London SW7.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester this morning visited Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, Lime Kiln, Wootton Bassett, to mark the third Annual Holocaust and Genocide Day and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire (Mrs Peter Troughton).

His Royal Highness this afternoon attended Victory Day celebrations to mark the Seventy First Anniversary of the first Arctic Convoys onboard HMS Belfast, the Queen’s Walk, London SE1, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London (Sir David Brewer).

The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron, National Association of the Decorative and Fine Arts Societies, this morning attended the Annual General Meeting at Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8.

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent, Honorary Air Commodore, this morning presented the new Standard to No 58 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment at Royal Air Force Leuchars, St Andrews, Fife.

Thatched House Lodge, Richmond Park

Princess Alexandra this afternoon opened the Peter Buckley Teaching Garden and Pilkington Cob House at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden Rosemoor, Torrington, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Devon (Mr Eric Dancer).