COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

The King, accompanied by The Queen, travelled in State to the Palace of Westminster today to open the Session of Parliament.

Their Majesties drove in a Carriage Procession, escorted by a Sovereign’s Escort of The Household Cavalry, under the command of Major William Charlesworth, The Blues and Royals, and were received at the Sovereign’s Entrance by the Earl Marshal and the Lord Great Chamberlain.

Guards of Honour were mounted at Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster by 1st Battalion Welsh Guards with The King’s Colour, under the command of Major Andrew Campbell.

A staircase party of The Household Cavalry was on duty at Victoria Tower, House of Lords, under the command of Major Dean Owens.

Royal Salutes were fired in Green Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, under the command of Major John Baileff, and from the Tower of London Saluting Battery by the Honourable Artillery Company, under the command of Major Amanda Wheeler.

The Imperial State Crown, the Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of State were conveyed previously to the House of Lords in a Carriage Procession, escorted by a Regalia Escort of the Household Cavalry.

His Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms was on duty in the Prince’s Chamber and The King’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard was on duty in the Royal Gallery.

The King’s Bargemaster and Watermen were on duty.

The Ladies and Gentlemen of the Household and the Pages of Honour to The King (the Hon Guy Tryon, the Hon William Sackville, the Hon Alfred Wellesley and Ralph Tollemache) and the Pages of Honour to The Queen (William Keswick and Arthur Elliott) were in attendance at the Palace of Westminster.

Their Majesties returned to Buckingham Palace and were received by the Lord Chamberlain and the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household.

Today is the Seventy Seventh Anniversary of the Birthday of The Queen.

By command of The King, Mr Alistair Harrison (Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps) called upon His Excellency Mr Teferi Melesse Desta at 7 Princes Gate, London SW7, this afternoon in order to bid farewell to His Excellency upon relinquishing his appointment as Ambassador from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Court of St James’s.

Ms Manju Malhi (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London) was present at Royal Air Force Northolt this morning upon the Arrival of The President of the Republic of Serbia and welcomed His Excellency on behalf of The King.

Major Jeremy Fern (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London) was present at Heathrow Airport, London, this afternoon upon the Arrival of The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and welcomed His Excellency on behalf of His Majesty.

Major Jeremy Fern was present at Heathrow Airport, London, later upon the Arrival of The President of the Republic of Finland and welcomed His Excellency on behalf of The King.

Ms Lynda Atkins (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire) was present at Royal Air Force Brize Norton this afternoon upon the Arrival of The President of the Republic of Bulgaria and welcomed His Excellency on behalf of His Majesty.

Mrs Rosemary Prescott (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London) was present at Heathrow Airport, London, this evening upon the Arrival of The President of the Republic of Kosovo and welcomed His Excellency on behalf of The King.

Ms Lynda Atkins was present at Royal Air Force Brize Norton this evening upon the Arrival of The President of the Republic of Lithuania and welcomed His Excellency on behalf of His Majesty.

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal, Colonel-in-Chief, Intelligence Corps, this afternoon visited 4 Military Intelligence Battalion at Bulford Barracks, Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Her Royal Highness was represented by Mrs Charles Ritchie (Lady in Waiting to Her Royal Highness) at the Funeral of the Earl of Rosebery and Midlothian which was held at Dalmeny Kirk, Main Street, Dalmeny, Midlothian, this afternoon.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Kent, Chancellor, University of Surrey, this afternoon presided at the Undergraduate Degree Ceremony for the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Guildford Cathedral, Stag Hill, Guildford, Surrey.