COURT CIRCULAR

Windsor Castle

The King this afternoon gave a Luncheon for Members of the Order of Merit at Windsor Castle.

The following had the honour of being invited: Professor Sir Roger Penrose and Lady Penrose, Sir David Attenborough and Ms Susan Attenborough, Sir Timothy Berners-Lee and Lady Berners-Lee, the Lord Rees of Ludlow and Dame Caroline Humphrey, Mr Neil MacGregor, Mr David Hockney and Mr Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima, the Hon John Howard and Mrs Howard, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub and Miss Lisa Yacoub, the Lord Darzi of Denham and the Lady Darzi, Professor Dame Ann Dowling and Professor Thomas Hynes, Sir James Dyson and Lady Dyson, Sir David Adjaye and Lady Adjaye, Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu and Miss Nina Patel, the Baroness Benjamin and Mr Keith Taylor, Professor Margaret MacMillan and Ms Ann MacMillan, Sir Paul Nurse and Lady Nurse and the Lord Janvrin (Secretary and Registrar of the Order of Merit).

His Majesty held a Council at Buckingham Palace at 4.30pm.

There were present: the Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP (Lord President), the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, the Rt Hon Edward Miliband MP and the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP.

Ms Anneliese Dodds MP, Ms Louise Haigh MP, Mr Richard Hermer, Mr Darren Jones MP, Mr Peter Kyle MP, Mr Ian Murray MP, Ms Bridget Phillipson MP, Mr Steven Reed MP, Mr Jonathan Reynolds MP, Ms Joanna Stevens MP and Mr Wesley Streeting MP were sworn in or made affirmation as members of His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

The following took the Oath of Office or made affirmation, kissed hands upon appointment and received the Seals of Office: the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP (as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government), the Rt Hon Wesley Streeting MP (as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care), the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP (as Secretary of State for Education), the Rt Hon Edward Miliband MP (as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero), the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP (as Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade), the Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP (as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology), the Rt Hon Louise Haigh MP (as Secretary of State for Transport), the Rt Hon Steven Reed MP (as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP (as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland), the Rt Hon Ian Murray MP (as Secretary of State for Scotland) and the Rt Hon Joanna Stevens MP (as Secretary of State for Wales).

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

The Rt Hon Sir Clive Alderton (Principal Private Secretary to Their Majesties) was in attendance.

The Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP had an audience of His Majesty before the Council.

The Queen this afternoon attended the Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, London SW19.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester, Grand Prior, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, this evening attended the Grand Prior Dinner at St David’s Hotel, Havannah Street, Cardiff, and was received by Colonel Kevin Davies (Deputy Lieutenant of South Glamorgan).

The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron, Friends of St Paul’s Cathedral, this afternoon attended the Annual Festival Service in St Paul’s Cathedral, London EC4.