COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

The Rt. Hon. Christopher Grayling MP had an audience of The Queen this morning and delivered up the Great Seal and took leave upon relinquishing his appointment as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.

The Queen held a Council at 11.30am.

There were present: the Rt. Hon. Christopher Grayling MP, the Rt. Hon. George Osborne MP, the Rt. Hon. Michael Gove MP, the Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid MP, the Rt. Hon. Gregory Clark MP and the Rt. Hon. David Mundell MP.

The Lord Astor of Hever, the Lord Bates, the Lord Feldman, the Lord Freud, the Rt. Hon. Robert Halfon MP, the Rt. Hon. Mark Harper MP, the Rt. Hon. Edward Llewellyn, the Rt. Hon. Priti Patel MP, the Rt. Hon. Amber Rudd MP, the Rt. Hon. Anna Soubry MP, the Rt. Hon. John Whittingdale MP and the Rt. Hon. Gavin Williamson MP were sworn in as Members of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

The Rt. Hon. Andrew Tyrie MP made affirmation as a Member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

The Queen declared in Council the Rt. Hon. Christopher Grayling MP President of the Council, who was sworn in and kissed hands upon appointment.

The following took the Oath of Office, kissed hands upon appointment and received the Seals of Office: the Rt. Hon. George Osborne MP (as First Secretary of State), the Rt. Hon. Michael Gove MP (as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice), the Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid MP (as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills), the Rt. Hon. Gregory Clark MP (as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government), the Rt. Hon. Amber Rudd MP (as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change), the Rt. Hon. David Mundell MP (as Secretary of State for Scotland) and the Rt. Hon. John Whittingdale (as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport).

Mr. Richard Tilbrook and Mrs. Ceri King were in attendance as Clerk of the Council and Deputy Clerk of the Council respectively.

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

Clarence House

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall this morning visited World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, and were received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside (Dame Lorna Muirhead).

The Prince of Wales this afternoon visited the Homeground Partnership, 316 Scotland Road, Liverpool.

His Royal Highness afterwards visited the new Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Eaton Road, Liverpool.

The Prince of Wales later received the Archbishop of Westminster (Cardinal Vincent Nichols).

The Duchess of Cornwall this afternoon opened the completed KIND SEED Centre to mark the Fortieth Anniversary of KIND, 19 Back Canning Street, Liverpool.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Foundation Years Trust, afterwards visited Trust Projects at Manor Primary School, Beechwood Drive, Greenfields, Prenton, Merseyside.

Kensington Palace

Prince Henry of Wales this morning visited Putiki Marae in Whanganui, New Zealand.

His Royal Highness afterwards crossed the Whanganui river in a traditional Maori canoe.

Prince Henry of Wales this afternoon attended a Veterans’ Reception at the War Memorial Centre, Whanganui.

Buckingham Palace

The Duke of York this afternoon received Mr Jusuf Kalla (Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia).

Buckingham Palace

The Earl of Wessex, President, Creative Youth, this evening attended a Dinner at the Holiday Inn Kingston South, Surbiton, Surrey, and was received by Colonel Geoffrey Godbold (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

The Countess of Wessex, Colonel-in-Chief, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, this morning attended the DANS Symposium at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Sandhurst, Surrey.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Central School of Ballet, this evening attended a performance given by Ballet Central to mark their Thirtieth Anniversary, the Corn Exchange, Market Place, Newbury, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the Royal Country of Berkshire (Mr. James Puxley).

Buckingham Palace

The Princess Royal, Warden, the Fishmongers’ Company, this morning attended a Committee of Wardens’ Meeting following by a Court Meeting and Luncheon at Fishmongers’ Hall, London Bridge, London EC4.

Her Royal Highness, President, the City and Guilds of London Institute, this afternoon presented The Prince Philip Medal, the Highly Commended Certificate, the President’s Award and Livery Company prizes at St James’s Palace.

The Princess Royal, Warden, Gordonstoun School, later received Professor Bryan Williams upon relinquishing his appointment as Chairman.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Royal National Children’s Foundation, this evening held a Dinner at St James’s Palace.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester, Honorary Fellow, the Institution of Structural Engineers, this afternoon opened the renovated International Headquarters, Bastwick Street, London EC1.

The Duchess of Gloucester, President, this evening attended a performance of “Royal Academy Opera Double Bill” at the Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, London NW1.

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent, Colonel-in-Chief, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was represented by Sir Richard Buckley (Extra Equerry to His Royal Highness) at the Memorial Service to celebrate the Life of Colonel William Etches (formerly Regimental Secretary) which was held in the Church of St. Thomas of Canterbury, the Street, East Clandon, Surrey, this afternoon.

Buckingham Palace

Princess Alexandra, Patron, Anchor Trust, this afternoon visited Bishopstoke Park Retirement Village, Church Road, Bishopstoke, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire (Mr. Nigel Atkinson).

Her Royal Highness later visited St. Anne’s Holiday Dialysis Centre at 34 Havant Road, Emsworth, and was received by Mrs. Lindsay Fox (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire).

Princess Alexandra subsequently visited Crossover, Liss Youth Centre, 71 Station Road, Liss, Hampshire.