COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace 

Her Excellency Ms Laetitia van den Assum was received in audience by The Queen today and presented the Letters of Recall of her predecessor and her own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Court of St James’s.

His Excellency Mr Konstantinos Bikas 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 the Hellenic Republic to the Court of St James’s.

Mrs Bika was also received by Her Majesty.

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

The Queen held a Council at 5.30 p.m.

There were present: the Rt Hon Christopher Grayling MP (Acting Lord President), the Rt Hon Simon Burns MP (Minister of State, Department for Transport), the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP (Secretary of State, Department of Health) and the Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP (Secretary of State for Northern Ireland).

The Earl Howe, the Hon. Lindsay Hoyle MP, the Rt Hon Sir David Lloyd Jones and the Rt. Hon. Sir Richard McCombe were sworn in as members of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

The Rt Hon Sir Colman Treacy made affirmation as a member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

Mr Richard Tilbrook was in attendance as Clerk of the Council.

The Rt Hon Christopher Grayling MP had an audience of Her Majesty before the Council.

Clarence House 

The Prince of Wales, President, The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community, this morning visited Highbury Gardens, Islington, London N7.

His Royal Highness, President, The Prince’s Youth Business International, this afternoon held a Meeting.

The Duchess of Cornwall this morning met members of Chippenham Time Network and providers and beneficiaries of Wiltshire Money, the Rise Children’s Centre, the Oaks, Chippenham, Wiltshire.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Community First, later visited Youth Action Wiltshire’s Project Inspire at Langley Burrell Village Hall, Chippenham, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire (Mrs Peter Troughton).

The Duchess of Cornwall this afternoon opened the new community room at Wiltshire Scrapstore and Resource Centre, Unit 5, Griffin Estate, Bowden Hill, Lacock, Wiltshire.

Buckingham Palace 

The Duke of York this evening took the salute at the Ceremony of the Keys at HM Tower of London, and attended a Dinner.

Buckingham Palace 

The Earl of Wessex, Royal Colonel, 2nd Battalion The Rifles, this morning visited the Regiment at Ballykinler Military Base, County Down.

His Royal Highness this afternoon re-opened Ardaluin Outdoor Activity Centre, Bryansford Road, Newcastle, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Down (Mr. David Lindsay).

The Earl of Wessex, Trustee, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, later attended a Reception at Hillsborough Castle.

The Countess of Wessex, Patron, the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation, this evening attended a Reception at the House of Lords, London SW1.

Buckingham Palace 

The Princess Royal, President, Animal Health Trust, this morning chaired a Council of Management Review Meeting at the Kennel Club, 1-5 Clarges Street, London W1.

Her Royal Highness, Chancellor, the University of Edinburgh, this evening held a Dinner at Buckingham Palace.

St James’s Palace 

The Duke of Kent this morning visited Canterbury College, New Dover Road, Canterbury, and was received by Mr Richard Oldfield (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Kent).

His Royal Highness, Patron, Canterbury Cathedral Appeal, later visited Canterbury Cathedral and viewed restoration work on the building.

The Duke of Kent this afternoon visited Denne Joinery, Bramling House, Bramling, Canterbury.