COURT CIRCULAR

Windsor Castle

Mr Michael Jephson was received by The Queen this afternoon upon his retirement as Secretary of the Master of the Household’s Department when Her Majesty conferred upon him the honour of Knighthood and invested him with the Insignia of a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

The Queen held a Council via video link at 2.30pm.

There were present: the Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP (Lord President), the Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport), the Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP (Secretary of State for Northern Ireland) and the Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP (Secretary of State for Education).

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

The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP (Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury) had an audience of Her Majesty via telephone this evening.

By command of The Queen, Mr Alistair Harrison (Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps) called upon His Excellency Mr Ernest Ndabashinze at Uganda House, 58-59 Trafalgar Square, London WC2, this morning in order to bid farewell to His Excellency upon relinquishing his appointment as Ambassador from the Republic of Burundi to the Court of St James’s.

Clarence House

The Prince of Wales this morning held a Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative via video link.

His Royal Highness afterwards received Mrs Rebecca Speight (Chief Executive, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).

The Duchess of Cornwall, Patron, this morning decorated the Clarence House Christmas Tree with children from Helen and Douglas House via video link.