COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh today commenced a visit to the North East of England in celebration of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness this morning disembarked from My Leander at Corporation Quay, South Docks, Sunderland, and were received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear (Mr Nigel Sherlock), the Chairman of the Port Authority (Councillor Paul Watson) and the Mayor of the City of Sunderland (Councillor Iain Kay).

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, escorted respectively by the Mayor of the City of Sunderland and Mr David Smith (Chief Executive of the City of Sunderland), moved through marquees, viewing “Street Parties” and activities depicting each of the last six decades.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness drove to the South Side of Tyne Tunnel 2 at Jarrow and, upon arrival, The Queen started the wheelchair race through the Tunnel.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were received at the Tunnel by the Chairman of Tyne Tunnel 2 (Mr Lesley Tenant) and the Mayor of South Tyneside (Councillor Eileen Leask).

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness, escorted respectively by Mr Trevor Jackson (Managing Director, Tyne Tunnel 2) and Mr Barry Rowland (Clerk of Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority), met representatives of local communities and the construction and design team before planting a commemorative Royal Oak tree.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh then drove through the Tunnel and were received at the North Side in Wallsend by the Chairman of North Tyneside Council (Councillor Francis Lott).

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness met wheelchair athletes and congratulated the winner of the Tunnel Race, before meeting Tunnel staff and representatives from local communities.

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, subsequently officially opened Tyne Tunnel 2.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness later attended a Diamond Jubilee Celebration in Gateshead International Stadium, Neilson Road, Gateshead, and were received by the Chief Executive of Gateshead Council (Mrs Jane Robinson) and the Mayor of Gateshead (Councillor Malcolm Brain).

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, escorted respectively by the Mayor of Gateshead and the Chief Executive of Gateshead Council, listened to a choir of schoolchildren singing the Diamond Jubilee song, before meeting schoolchildren from Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, North and South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness this afternoon arrived at Durham Castle and were received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham (Sir Paul Nicholson), the Chairman of Durham County Council (Councillor Linda Marshall), the Chairman of Durham University Council (Mrs Anne Galbraith) and the Mayor of Durham (Councillor John Wilkinson).

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh met representatives from voluntary and community sector and cultural partnerships, and the business community and Durham University, before being entertained to Luncheon in the Great Hall by Durham University (Professor Christopher Higgins, Vice-Chancellor) and Durham County Council.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness later visited the Tees Barrage White Water Course, Stockton-on-Tees, and were received by the Chief Executive of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (Mr Neil Schneider) and the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (Councillor Lynne Apedaile).

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh crossed the bridge and received an explanation of the Tees Barrage construction, before re-crossing the bridge and viewing the Archimedes Screws and meeting representatives from the environment agency and river users and the Fire and Rescue Service and viewing rescue vehicle training in the water course.

Her Majesty, accompanied by His Royal Highness, then opened The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee White Water Course by pressing a button to release the water.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh subsequently viewed canoeists using the short course, and canoeists and rafts along the long course.

Clarence House

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, on behalf of The Queen in celebration of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, today visited Jersey and were received this morning at Jersey Airport by the Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in-Chief (General Sir John McColl).

Their Royal Highnesses first opened the new building at Grainville School, Deloraine Road, St. Saviour, and The Prince of Wales, as President, The Prince’s Trust, met representatives of the Jersey Prince’s Trust.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall this afternoon attended a Special Meeting of the States in the Royal Square, St Helier.

Their Royal Highnesses afterwards visited the Central Market in St Helier.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall later visited the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society Show, Royal Jersey Showground, Route de la Trinité, Trinity.

His Royal Highness, Patron, the National Trust for Jersey, afterwards visited the newly restored property at 16 New Street, St Helier.

The Prince of Wales subsequently visited St Helier Parish Church to view the recently completed restoration work.

Their Royal Highnesses this evening attended a States Dinner given by the Bailiff of Jersey and Lady Birt at Samarès Manor, St Clement.

Buckingham Palace

The Earl of Wessex, Patron, this afternoon viewed the London Gardens Society’s prize winning gardens in London and was received by Mr Richard Walker-Arnott (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

His Royal Highness, President, Sport and Recreation Alliance, later held a Meeting at Buckingham Palace.

The Earl of Wessex, Patron, the London Mozart Players, this evening held a Dinner at Buckingham Palace.

The Countess of Wessex, Patron, Hallé Concerts Society, this afternoon held a Meeting at Buckingham Palace.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Childline, this evening attended the British Telecom Artbox Gala Reception at the National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London WC2, in aid of the charity and to mark its Twenty Fifth Anniversary.

Buckingham Palace

The Princess Royal, Commandant-in-Chief (Youth), St John Ambulance, this afternoon opened the One Hundred and Twenty Fifith Anniversary exhibition at the Museum of the Order of St John, St John’s Gate, 26 St John’s Lane, London EC1.

Her Royal Highness later received Commander John Aitken RN (Commanding Officer, HMS Talent) at Buckingham Palace.

The Princess Royal, Colonel, The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons), this evening attended a Household Cavalry book launch for Uniquely British at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London W1.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Citizens Advice, afterwards attended a Dinner at Altitude, Millbank Tower, London SW1.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester this afternoon visited the Art Building at Mid Cheshire College, Hartford Campus, Chester Road, Northwich, to commemorate the Sixtieth Anniversary of the Cheshire and Wirral Youth Federation, and, having been received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire (Mr David Briggs), afterwards opened the new Theatre in the Creative Arts and Sports Building.

His Royal Highness later visited Oliver Valvetek Limited, Parkgate Industrial Estate, Knutsford, Cheshire, and presented The Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The Duke of Gloucester afterwards visited ICC Solutions Limited, St James Business Centre, Warrington, and presented The Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

His Royal Highness this evening visited Warrington Youth Club at the Peace Centre, Cromwell Drive, Warrington.

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent this morning visited Chiswick House Gardens, London W4, and was received by Mr Paul Kennerley (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

His Royal Highness later visited GlaxoSmithKline UK, 980 Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex.

The Duke of Kent this afternoon visited the National Physical Laboratory, Church Road Studios, 30 Church Road, Teddington, Middlesex.

His Royal Highness afterwards visited the National Measurement Office, Stanton Avenue, Teddington.

Thatched House Lodge, Richmond Park

Princess Alexandra, President, Alexandra Rose Charities, this afternoon received the Lord St John of Bletso (Chairman), Mr Michael Morris (Deputy Chairman) and Mr Michael MacKenzie (Chief Operations Officer) at Buckingham Palace.