COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, this afternoon attended the Commonwealth Day Observance Service in Westminster Abbey and was received by the Dean of Westminster (the Very Reverend Dr John Hall) and the Chairman of the Council of Commonwealth Societies (the Lord Howell of Guildford).

Before entering the Abbey for the Service Her Majesty broke the Commonwealth Flag outside the Great West Door.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Earl and Countess of Wessex were also present.

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, was present this evening at a Reception given by the Commonwealth Secretary-General (His Excellency Mr Kamalesh Sharma) at Marlborough House.

By command of The Queen, Mr. Alistair Harrison (Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps) called upon His Excellency Mr. Tomas Muller Sproat at 37-41 Old Queen Street, London SW1, this morning in order to bid farewell to His Excellency upon relinquishing his appointment as Ambassador from the Republic of Chile to the Court of St James’s.

Clarence House

The Prince of Wales, Colonel, Welsh Guards, this evening received Lieutenant Colonel Giles Harris upon assuming his appointment as Commanding Officer.

Kensington Palace

Prince Henry of Wales, Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, today attended a medals presentation to the Row2Recovery Atlantic Row crews at Henley River and Rowing Museum, Henley-on-Thames, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire (Mr Timothy Stevenson).

Buckingham Palace

The Duke of York, Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and The Ulster Defence Regiment), today visited the 2nd Battalion at Clonaver Park, Belfast, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Down (Mr David Lindsay).

Buckingham Palace

Today is the Anniversary of the Birthday of The Earl of Wessex.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Founders, Wessex Youth Trust, this morning visited Robert Browning Community School, King and Queen Street, Walworth, London SE17, in support of Kidscape and were received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London (Sir David Brewer).

Their Royal Highnesses, Founders, Wessex Youth Trust, later visited London’s Air Ambulance at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London E1, and were received by Commander John Ludgate (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

The Earl of Wessex, Honorary Chairman, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Canadians Challenge Charter for Business, this afternoon held a Meeting at Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace

The Princess Royal, President, the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, this evening attended the Fellows’ Evening at the Royal Albert Hall, London SW7.

Kensington Palace

The Duchess of Gloucester, President, this afternoon attended a Meeting of the Governing Body at the Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, London NW1.

Appendix to Court Circular

The Queen has been pleased to appoint the Reverend David Nicholson to be a Chaplain to Her Majesty in succession to the Reverend Prebendary Pippa Thorneycroft.