COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace 

His Excellency Dr Mohamed Mijarul Quayes was received in audience by The Queen today and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Commission as High Commissioner for the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in London.

Mrs Naeema Chaudbury Quayes was also received by Her Majesty.

His Excellency Mr Ashraf Elkholy was received by The Queen and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Court of St James’s.

Mrs Elkholy was also received by Her Majesty.

Mr Matthew Rycroft (Chief Operating Officer, Foreign and Commonwealth Office) was present.

The Lord Carrington KG was received by The Queen when he handed back to Her Majesty the Gold Badge and Chain of Office and Satchel upon relinquishing his appointment as Chancellor of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

The Duke of Abercorn KG was received by The Queen when Her Majesty handed to him the Gold Badge and Chain of Office and Satchel upon his appointment as Chancellor of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

Mr Thomas Woodcock (Garter King of Arms) was in attendance and administered the Declaration to the Duke of Abercorn.

The Queen held a Council at 5.30 pm.

There were present: the Rt Hon Nicholas Clegg MP (Lord President), the Rt Hon Michael Moore MP (Secretary of State for Scotland), the Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government).

The Rt Hon Sir Jack Beatson, the Lord Bracadale, the Rt Hon John Hayes MP, the Rt Hon Stephen O’Brien MP, the Lord Spicer and the Lord Williams of Elvel were sworn in as members of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

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

The Rt Hon Nicholas Clegg MP had an audience of Her Majesty before the Council.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron, today attended Receptions at St James’s Palace for young people who have achieved the Gold Standard in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Clarence House 

The Prince of Wales this morning visited the Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall this afternoon gave a Reception for Members of Parliament.

The Prince of Wales, President, later received Mr George Cook (Chief Executive Officer, Community Resilience).

His Royal Highness, President, The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community, afterwards held a Meeting.

The Prince of Wales received Sir Jonathan Evans upon relinquishing his appointment as Director General, British Security Service and Mr Andrew Parker upon assuming the appointment.

The Duchess of Cornwall this morning visited London Mutual Credit Union, 4 Heaton Road, Peckham, London SE15, and was received by Mrs Jennifer Bianco (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

St James’s Palace 

Prince Henry of Wales, Patron, Sentebale, today attended a Luncheon and played in the Sentebale Polo Cup at Greenwich Polo Club, Connecticut, United States of America.

His Royal Highness this evening departed from John F. Kennedy Airport, New York, for the United Kingdom.

Buckingham Palace 

The Duke of York this afternoon departed Heathrow Airport for Canada and was received this evening upon arrival at Vancouver International Airport by the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia (the Hon Judith Guichon).

Mrs Amanda Thirsk and Lieutenant Commander Michael Hutchinson RN are in attendance.

Buckingham Palace 

The Earl of Wessex this morning opened the new Royal Ulster Agricultural Society Showground, Balmoral, Belfast, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast (Dame Mary Peters).

His Royal Highness this afternoon visited the Hub Counselling Centre, 50 Windmill Street, and later visited the Edge Youth Centre, Ballynahinch, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Down (Mr David Lindsay) The Countess of Wessex this morning visited the British School Paris, 2 Rue Hans List, Croissy-sur-Seine, and was received by Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the French Republic (Sir Peter Ricketts).

Her Royal Highness this afternoon attended a Lunch at the Residence in Paris.

The Countess of Wessex later arrived at St Pancras International Railway Station, London, from France.

Mrs Angus Galletley was in attendance.

Kensington Palace 

The Duchess of Gloucester, Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, Adjutant General’s Corps, this morning attended the Triple Crown Military Skills Challenge Competition at Worthy Down, Winchester, Hampshire.