COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

The King held a Council at 11am.

There were present: the Rt Hon Penelope Mordaunt MP (Lord President), the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, the Rt Hon Thomas Tugendhat MP (Minister of State for Security), the Rt Hon Sir Clive Alderton and the Rt Hon Sir Edward Young (Private Secretaries to The King).

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP received the Seals of Office as Secretary of State for the Home Department, took the Oath of Office and kissed hands on appointment.

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

The Rt Hon Penelope Mordaunt MP had an audience of His Majesty before the Council.

His Excellency Mr Vadym Prystaiko was received in audience by The King today and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from Ukraine to the Court of St James’s.

Mrs Prystaiko was also received by His Majesty.

His Excellency Mr Moazzam Ahmad Khan was received in audience by The King and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Commission as High Commissioner for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in London.

Mrs Moazzam was also received by His Majesty.

Sir Philip Barton (Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs) was present.

The President of the Togolese Republic visited The King this afternoon.

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal this morning visited Kays Curling, 9 Barskimming Road, Mauchline, Ayrshire, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran (Sheriff Iona McDonald).

Her Royal Highness, President, Riding for the Disabled Association, this afternoon visited the Ashmount, Ruddington and Wenlo Groups at Meadow School of Riding, Bowley’s Barn Farm, Stanford Lane, Normanton on Soar, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire (Sir John Peace).

The Princess Royal, Honorary Member, the Seven Seas Club, this evening attended the Centenary and Trafalgar Night Dinner at the National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London SW1, and was received by Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester this morning departed from Heathrow Airport, London, for the United States of America and was received this afternoon upon arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas, by Mr Richard Hyde (His Majesty’s Consul-General for Houston).

His Royal Highness, Grand Prior, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, this evening attended a Dinner in Houston.

Lieutenant Colonel Alastair Todd is in attendance.

The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron, Enham Trust, this afternoon received Mr Michael Biles (Chairman) and Mr Simon Williams (Chief Executive).