COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

The King held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace this morning.

The following were received in audience by The King this afternoon and kissed hands upon their appointment as His Majesty’s Ambassadors: Mr Stephen Hitchen (the Republic of Iraq) and Mr Timothy Smart (the Republic of Uzbekistan).

Mrs Hitchen and Dr Veronika Smart were also received by His Majesty.

The following were received in audience by The King upon their appointment as British High Commissioners: Mr Gareth Hoar (the Independent State of Samoa), Mr Philip Malone (the Kingdom of Tonga) and Mr Paul Turner (Solomon Islands and non-resident British High Commissioner to the Republic of Nauru).

Mrs Sarah Yee Whey Tan and Mrs Turner were also received by His Majesty.

The King held a Council at 4.30pm.

There were present: the Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP (Lord President), the Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP (Secretary of State for Transport), the Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport) and the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP (Secretary of State for Business and Trade, and President of the Board of Trade).

The Rt Hon Sir Antony Zacaroli made affirmation as a member of His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

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.

Later The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, accompanied by Prince Mateen of Brunei Darussalam, visited The King.

The Princess Royal, on behalf of The King, held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace this afternoon.

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Edinburgh this afternoon arrived at Heathrow Airport, London, from Kuwait.

Brigadier Alexander Potts was in attendance.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, Patron, this morning visited the Lighthouse, 8-10 High Street, Woking, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey (Mr Michael More-Molyneux).

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal this evening attended the London International Horse Show at ExCel London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16, and was received by Mrs Sandra Cahill (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

Kensington Palace

The Duchess of Gloucester, Colonel-in-Chief, Royal Bermuda Regiment, this morning received Mr Andrew Murdoch (Governor designate of Bermuda and Commander-in-Chief designate of the Royal Bermuda Regiment).