COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

The President of the Republic of South Africa, accompanied by The Earl of Wessex, this morning visited the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, and was received by the Chairman of Trustees (Dame Amelia Fawcett) and Mr Richard Deverell (Director).

The President and His Royal Highness toured the Temperate House, viewed exhibits illustrating the Gardens’ partnership with South Africa and attended a Meeting.

The President of the Republic of South Africa, accompanied by The Earl of Wessex, later visited the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1, and was received by Sir Paul Nurse (Chief Executive Officer) and the Chairman of the Board (the Lord Browne of Madingley).

The President and His Royal Highness, escorted by the Chief Executive Officer, toured the Institute, receiving a briefing on the Institute’s Covid Legacy study and the collaboration between the Institute and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and viewed a demonstration of the robot sequencer.

His Excellency and The Earl of Wessex thereafter witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding on Health and Science and met members of the South African community working at the Institute.

The President of the Republic of South Africa this afternoon visited No 10 Downing Street, where His Excellency had talks with the Prime Minister and subsequently was entertained to Luncheon by the Prime Minister on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.

The President, accompanied by the Rt Hon Olukemi Badenoch MP (Secretary of State for International Trade), afterwards attended the United Kingdom-South Africa Business Forum at Lancaster House, Stable Yard, St James’s, London SW1, where, having been received by Mr Andrew Selous MP (Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for South Africa), His Excellency gave a speech.

The President of the Republic of South Africa, with the South African Suite in attendance, subsequently took leave of The King at Buckingham Palace.

The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP (Leader of the Opposition) later called upon The President at the Corinthia Hotel, Whitehall Place, London SW1.

The President of the Republic of South Africa this evening received an Address of Welcome at a Court of Common Council and afterwards was entertained at a Banquet by the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London at Guildhall.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were present.

The King this morning visited the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, 8 South Square, London WC1, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London (Sir Kenneth Olisa) and the Treasurer (Sir Peter Gross).

His Majesty met staff, students and barristers in the Hall before meeting pupils from City Junior School which is based in the grounds of the Inn.

The King afterwards visited Barts Heritage at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1, and was received by the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor (Alderman Nicholas Lyons), the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital (Professor Charles Knight) and Mr William Pain (Chief Executive Officer, Barts Heritage).

His Majesty met supporters, craftspeople and conservators involved with Barts Heritage prior to the start of restoration work, before meeting medical and other hospital staff and patients.

The King this afternoon visited the Goldsmiths’ Centre, 42 Britton Street, London EC1, and was received by the Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths (the Lord Bridges) and the Chief Executive of the Goldsmiths’ Centre (Sir David Reddaway).

His Majesty toured the workshop, meeting young people on the apprenticeship programmes and viewed their work.

Later the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP (Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury) had an audience of The King at Buckingham Palace.

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence this afternoon departed Mount Pleasant Airport, Falkland Islands, for the United Kingdom.