COURT CIRCULAR

Buckingham Palace

The King and Queen this morning visited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Neasden Temple), Pramukh Swami Road, Neasden, London NW10, to celebrate the Temple’s Thirtieth Anniversary and were received by Miss Mei Sim Lai (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London), the Chairman of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha United Kingdom (Mr Jitu Patel) and Councillor Ryan Hack (Mayor of the London Borough of Brent).

Their Majesties, escorted by the Chairman and Ms Rena Amin (Head of External Relations for BAPS), viewed flower petals being offered to the sacred image of Bhagwan Swaminarayan before observing the ceremonial pouring of water over a deity’s image by the Head Priest (Pujya Yogvivekdas Swami).

The King and Queen subsequently viewed a model of the BAPS Mandir under construction in Paris, accompanied by Mr Sanjay Kara (Chief Executive Officer, BAPS Paris Mandir Project), before meeting representatives from community and social impact initiatives supported by the Temple.

Their Majesties afterwards viewed schoolchildren performing a Vedic prayer for world peace before meeting members of the local community.

The King and Queen this evening gave a Reception at Windsor Castle in honour of The Duke of Kent’s Ninetieth Birthday.

The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, The Duke of Gloucester, Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy were present.

The Queen, Commodore-in-Chief, Naval Chaplaincy Service, this afternoon received the Venerable Andrew Hillier upon relinquishing his appointment as Chaplain of the Fleet and the Reverend Dr Mark Davidson upon assuming the appointment.

St James’s Palace

The Duchess of Edinburgh this evening attended the Country Land and Business Association Reception at 70 Grosvenor Street, London W1.

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal, President, UK Fashion and Textile Association, this morning visited Edward Green and Company Limited, Cliftonville Road, Northampton, and was received by Mrs Anne Burnett (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire).

Her Royal Highness this afternoon visited Bridge Substance Misuse Programme, 63c Gold Street, Northampton, to mark its Twentieth Anniversary and was received by Mr Hassan Shah (Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire).

The Princess Royal afterwards visited the Good Loaf, 1-9 Overstone Road, Northampton, to mark its Tenth Anniversary.

Her Royal Highness subsequently attended “Conversation with Cadets — Northamptonshire” at Northamptonshire Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, Army Reserve Centre, Clare Street, Northampton.