COURT CIRCULAR

Windsor Castle

The President of the French Republic this morning attended the United Kingdom-France Summit at 10 Downing Street, London SW1, and was received by the Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP (Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury).

The President, accompanied by the Prime Minister, this afternoon received a briefing on Operational Plans at the Permanent Joint Headquarters and was received by the Rt Hon John Healey MP (Secretary of State for Defence) and Admiral Sir Antony Radakin (Chief of the Defence Staff).

The President of the French Republic, accompanied by the Prime Minister, afterwards visited NATO Allied Maritime Command and was received by Vice Admiral Michael Utley (Commander Allied Maritime Command).

His Excellency, together with Military representatives from the United Kingdom and France, received an Operational Briefing before meeting French Military representatives who are based in the United Kingdom.

The King this morning visited Walmer Castle, Kingsdown Road, Walmer, Deal, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent (the Lady Colgrain) and Sir George Zambellas (Lord Warden and Admiral of the Cinque Ports).

His Majesty toured the Castle, escorted by Dr Kathryn Bedford (Curator of Collections).

The King subsequently visited the Queen Mother’s Garden and met representatives from the coastal towns that make up the Confederation of Cinque Ports.

His Majesty this afternoon visited the Captain’s Garden, Deal, and, escorted by Mr Stephen Wakeford (Lead Volunteer of the Captain’s Garden), met volunteer gardeners and community groups that support local people in Deal.

The King, Patron, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, afterwards visited Walmer Lifeboat Station, the Strand, Walmer, Deal, and, having been received by Mr Denis Brophy (Lifeboat Operations Manager, Walmer), met volunteers and representatives from some of the Lifeboat Stations in the Cinque Ports.

His Majesty also viewed an emergency training exercise.

The King, escorted by Mr Charles Franklyn (Beach Clean Leader) and Ms Danielle Jordan (Director of Campaigns and Communities, Surfers Against Sewage), subsequently met volunteers taking part in a beach clean-up initiative along the coastline in Deal.

His Majesty later visited Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Goudhurst, Kent, and was received by Sir William Worsley, Bt (Chairman, Forestry Commission) and Mr Jonathan Codd (General Manager, Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest).

The King, escorted by Mr Daniel Luscombe (Curator), toured the Pinetum and met members of staff.

The Queen this morning visited the Wiltshire Community Foundation at Wellington Barn, Manor Farm, Calne, to mark its Fiftieth Anniversary and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire (Dame Sarah Troughton).

Her Majesty, Patron, this afternoon opened the new Jamie’s Farm at Lower Shockerwick Farm, Bath, and was received by Mr Edward Allen (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset).

The Lord Benyon (Lord Chamberlain) was present at Royal Air Force Northolt this afternoon upon the Departure of The President of the French Republic and bade farewell to His Excellency on behalf of His Majesty upon the conclusion of the State Visit to The King and Queen.

The King was represented by Lieutenant General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne (former Major General Commanding Household Division) at the Memorial Service for Major General Sir Christopher Airy (former Major General Commanding Household Division) which was held at the Guards’ Chapel, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London SW1, this afternoon.

The Duke of Edinburgh and The Duke of Kent were represented by Brigadier Harry Nickerson.

The Princess Royal was represented by Captain Fergus Lupton.

St James’s Palace

The Duchess of Edinburgh this morning departed Farnborough Airport, Hampshire for Bosnia and Herzegovina and was received upon arrival this afternoon at Sarajevo International Airport by His Majesty’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (His Excellency Mr Julian Reilly).

Her Royal Highness later called upon Mr Zeljko Komsic (a Member of the Presidency) at the Presidency Building, Marsala Tita 16, Sarajevo.

The Duchess of Edinburgh afterwards visited the Missing Persons Institute, Obala Kulina Bana, Sarajevo.

Her Royal Highness subsequently visited the Old Town of Sarajevo.

The Duchess of Edinburgh this evening met survivors of conflict-related sexual violence at the Residence of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Her Royal Highness afterwards attended a Dinner given by His Majesty’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Residence.

Mr Aleander Stonor and Mrs Rosamund Cave are in attendance.