COURT CIRCULAR

Balmoral Castle

The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP (First Minister of the Scottish Executive) was received in audience by The Queen this morning.

By command of Her Majesty, Mr Alistair Harrison (Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps) called upon Her Excellency Mrs Esther Armenteros Cardenas at 167 High Holborn, London WC1, this afternoon in order to bid farewell to Her Excellency upon relinquishing her appointment as Ambassador from the Republic of Cuba to the Court of St. James’s.

By command of The Queen, the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps called upon His Excellency Mr Kairat Abusseitov at 125 Pall Mall, London SW1, later in order to bid farewell to His Excellency upon relinquishing his appointment as Ambassador from the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Court of St James’s.

Buckingham Palace

The Duke of York this morning visited Shireland Collegiate Academy, Waterloo Road, Smethwick, Birmingham, West Midlands.

His Royal Highness, Patron, this afternoon attended a Luncheon and Briefing on Ladder for the Black Country at the Express and Star, 51-53 Queen Street, Wolverhampton.

The Duke of York later received Mr Wolfgang Durheimer (Chief Executive Officer, Bentley Motors).

Buckingham Palace

The Earl of Wessex this morning visited the Boys’ Brigade Northern Ireland Headquarters, 117 Culcavey Road, Hillsborough, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Down (Mr David Lindsay).

His Royal Highness, Royal Colonel, 2nd Battalion The Rifles, later visited troops and families at Thiepval Barracks, Magheralave Road, Lisburn, County Antrim.

The Countess of Wessex this afternoon chaired the Women’s Network Forum at Buckingham Palace.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Rochester Cathedral Trust, this evening attended a Reception for the launch of “Friends of Rochester Cathedral”, Pewterers’ Hall, Oat Lane, London EC2, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent (the Viscount De L’Isle).

Buckingham Palace

The Princess Royal, President, Riding for the Disabled Association, this morning opened the Ian Stark Equestrian Centre and visited the Ettrickbridge and Dryden Riding for the Disabled Association Group, Greenhill Farm, Selkirk, Selkirkshire, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Roxborough, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Captain the Hon Gerald Maitland-Carew).

Her Royal Highness, Patron, First World War Centenary Woods Project, this afternoon planted a tree and attended a Reception at Stonyhurst College, Stonyhurst, Clitheroe, and was received by Colonel Alan Jolley (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire).

The Princess Royal this evening attended Evensong at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, as part of Benenden School’s Ninetieth Anniversary celebrations.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester this morning visited the Anatomy Training Facilites at Keele University, Keele, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire (Mr. Ian Dudson).

His Royal Highness afterwards visited the Centre of Refurbishment Excellence, Normacot Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent.

The Duke of Gloucester, Patron, Normandy Veterans Association, this afternoon attended a Service of Dedication for the Normandy Campaign 1944 Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall, Alrewas.

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent, Grand Master, the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, this afternoon attended Evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London EC4, followed by a Reception.