COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

His Excellency Mr Simon Smits was received in audience by The Queen today and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Court of St James’s.

Mrs Astrid Smits-Kleinen was also received by Her Majesty.

Her Excellency Mrs Aichatou Sanni Aoudou was received in audience by The Queen and presented the Letters of Recall of her predecessor and her own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Gabonese Republic to the Court of St James’s.

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

General Sir Nicholas Carter (Chief of the General Staff) was received by Her Majesty this afternoon.

The Queen held a Council at 5.45pm.

There were present: the Rt Hon Christopher Grayling MP (Lord President), the Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP (Secretary of State for Wales), the Rt Hon Theresa May MP (Secretary of State for the Home Department), the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP (Secretary of State for Transport), the Rt Hon Nicola Morgan MP (Secretary of State for Education) and the Baroness Stowell of Beeston (Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords).

Mrs Ceri King was in attendance as Deputy Clerk of the Council.

Clarence House

The Prince of Wales, Chairman, the Royal Collection Trust, this morning chaired a Meeting of the Trustees.

His Royal Highness, President, Business in the Community, later attended the Impact Event at the Troxy, 490 Commercial Road, Tower Hamlets, London E1, and was received by Wing Commander Michael Dudgeon (Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Greater London).

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Cambridge, President, United for Wildlife, this morning held a Meeting of the United for Wildlife Taskforce on the trafficking of illegal wildlife products, Lancaster House, London SW1.

The Duke of Cambridge, Patron, Skillforce, and The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron, Place2Be, and Patron, SportsAid, this morning attended the Charity Day at Icap plc, 2 Broadgate, London EC2.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Henry of Wales, Joint Patrons, the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, this evening attended a Reception at St James’s Palace.

Buckingham Palace

The Earl of Wessex, Chancellor, the University of Bath, this morning presided at Degree Congregations at the Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath, Somerset.

Buckingham Palace

The Princess Royal, President, Carers Trust, this morning received Mr Andrew Cozens upon relinquishing his appointment as Chairman and Mr Stuart Taylor upon assuming the appointment.

Mrs Gail Scott-Spicer (Chief Executive) was present.

Her Royal Highness, Royal Bencher, the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, later presented the Inner Temple Book Prize to mark the Eight Hundredth Anniversary of the Sealing of Magna Carta, the Treasury Building, Inner Temple, London EC4.

The Princess Royal, President, Animal Health Trust, this afternoon held a Fellowship Reception at St James’s Palace.

Her Royal Highness, President, the Mission to Seafarers Limited, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, this evening attend a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in St. Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill, London EC4, followed by a Reception at Skinners’ Hall, 81/2 Dowgate Hill, London EC4.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester, Patron, Construction Youth Trust, this morning visited the Construction Training Centre Building H, Drummond Road, Bermondsey, London SE16.

The Duke of Gloucester, Royal Patron, and The Duchess of Gloucester this evening attended a Reception at the British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1.

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent, Grand Master, United Grand Lodge of England, this evening attended the Royal Alpha Lodge’s Installation at Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2.

Buckingham Palace

Princess Alexandra, Patron, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, this evening attended the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity Christmas Concert in St Luke’s Church, Sydney Street, London SW3.