COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

His Excellency Mr Evan Garcia 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 Republic of the Philippines to the Court of St James’s.

Mrs Batoon-Garcia was also received by Her Majesty.

His Excellency Mr Sulaiman Hamid Almazroui was received in audience by The Queen and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the United Arab Emirates to the Court of St James’s.

Mrs Alia Bastish was also received by Her Majesty.

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

The following members of Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms were received by The Queen: Major John Rodwell who delivered up his Stick of Office upon relinquishing his appointment as Standard Bearer and Lieutenant Colonel Peter Browne who received his Stick of Office upon his appointment as Standard Bearer of Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms.

The Queen held a Council at 5.30pm.

There were present: the Rt Hon David Lidington MP (Lord President), the Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport), the Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP (Secretary of State for Wales) and the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP (Secretary of State for Health).

The Rt Hon Ruth Davidson MSP, the Rt Hon Arlene Foster MLA, the Lord Glennie, the Rt Hon Benedict Gummer MP and the Rt Hon Edward Vaisey MP were sworn in as members of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

The Rt Hon David Gauke MP made affirmation as a member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

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

The Rt Hon David Lidington MP had an audience of Her Majesty before the Council.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, this afternoon held a Luncheon at Buckingham Palace.

His Royal Highness, Member, the Blue Seal Club, this evening attended a Dinner at the Cavalry and Guards Club, 127 Piccadilly, London W1.

The Baroness Goldie (Baroness in Waiting) was present at Heathrow Airport, London, this afternoon upon the Arrival of The President of the Republic of Fiji and Mrs Konrote and welcomed Their Excellencies on behalf of The Queen.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Cambridge, Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, this afternoon visited the National Health Service Step into Health programme at Hampshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Ark Conference Centre, Basingstoke, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire (Mr Nigel Atkinson).

His Royal Highness this evening presented Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3.

Buckingham Palace

The Duke of York this afternoon received Air Vice-Marshal Garry Tunnicliffe (Defence Services Secretary).

His Royal Highness subsequently received Baroness Scotland of Asthal (Commonwealth Secretary-General).

The Duke of York, Fellow, this evening presented the Royal Society Awards at 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1.

His Royal Highness later held a Financial Services Dinner at Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace

The Earl of Wessex, Trustee, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, today carried out engagements in Northern Ireland to celebrate the Award’s Diamond Anniversary.

His Royal Highness this morning attended a Meeting at Danske Bank, Donegall Square West, Belfast, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast (Mrs Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle).

The Earl of Wessex later visited Colebrooke Estate, Colebrooke Park, Brookeborough, for the Joint Award Initiative and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh (the Viscount Brookeborough).

His Royal Highness this afternoon visited Ballyclare High School, 31 Rashee Road, Ballyclare, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim (Mrs Joan Christie).

The Earl of Wessex, Honorary Member, the Incorporation of Coopers of Glasgow, this evening attended the Deacon Convener’s Dinner at the Trades House of Glasgow, Trades Hall, 85 Glassford Street, Glasgow, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Glasgow (Councillor Sadie Docherty, the Rt Hon the Lord Provost).

The Countess of Wessex, Patron, Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association, this afternoon attended a Lunch at Mosimann’s, 11B West Halkin Street, London SW1.

Her Royal Highness, Chairman, Women in Business (promoting The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award), later chaired a Meeting at Buckingham Palace.

The Countess of Wessex, Patron, the Treloar Trust, this evening attended a Gala Dinner at the Mansion House, London EC4.

Buckingham Palace

The Princess Royal this afternoon attended the Annual National Service for Seafarers in St Paul’s Cathedral, London EC4.

Her Royal Highness, Second Warden, the Fishmongers’ Company, this evening attended a Court Dinner at Fishmongers’ Hall, London Bridge, London EC4.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester this morning attended Founder’s Day at King James’s School, King James Road, Knaresborough, to mark their Four Hundredth Anniversary and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire (Mr Barry Dodd).

His Royal Highness later visited Chain Lane Community Hub, Chain Lane, Knaresborough.

The Duke of Gloucester afterwards opened Sherburn House, Chain Lane, Knaresborough, in support of the Wilf Ward Family Trust.

His Royal Highness this afternoon officially opened the extension to Dishforth Airfield Community Primary School, Short Road, Dishforth Airfield, Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

The Duchess of Gloucester, Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Bermuda Regiment, today received the Governor designate of Bermuda (Mr John Rankin).

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent, Patron, this evening attended a Concert at the Wigmore Hall, London W1, and presented the Wigmore Hall Medal.