Court Circular

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

20 May: The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, with the Zimbabwean Suite in attendance, left Buckingham Palace this morning upon the conclusion of the State Visit to The Queen and The Duke of

Edinburgh

His Excellency Mr Risto Nikovski was received in audience by The Queen and presented his Letters of Credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the Court of St James's.

Mrs Nikovska was also received by Her Majesty.

Sir David Gillmore (Permanent Under- Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) as present and the Household-in-Waiting were in attendance.

Mr Richard Muir was received in audience by The Queen and kissed hands upon his appointment as Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenitpotentiary to the Sultanate of Oman.

Mrs Muir was also received by Her

Majesty.

His Excellency Mr Derick Heaven was received in audience by The Queen upon his appointment as High Commissioner for Jamaica in London.

Mrs Heaven was also received by Her

Majesty.

Mr Vernon Jewell was received by The Queen upon his retirement as Chief Clerk and Accountant to the Household of The Duke of Edinburgh when Her Majesty invested him with the Insignia of a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron, Burma Star Association, today attended a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving to mark the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Battles of Kohima and Imphal and for all those who fought in the Far East during the Second World War at St Paul's Cathedral, London EC4.

His Royal Highness this afternoon laid the keel of The Matthew at Redcliffe Quay, Bristol, afterwards visiting the Underfall Yard, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Avon (Sir John Wills Bt).

Brigadier Miles Hunt-Davis was in

attendance.

The Quenn was represented by the Lord Callaghan of Cardiff KG at the Funeral of the Right Hon John Smith MP (Leader of the Opposition) which was held in Cluny Parish Church, Edinburgh, this morning.

The Prince of Wales was represented by the Lord Morris of Castle Morris.

20 May: The Prince Edward, Patron, this evening attended a Performance given by the Cambridge Youth Theatre of Archangels Don't Play Pinball at the ADC Theatre,

Cambridge.

Mrs Richard Warburton was in attendance.

20 May: The Princess Royal, Patron, the Home Farm Trust, this morning visited the Trust's Charity Shop at 209 London Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Greater Manchester (Colonel John Timmins).

Her Royal Highness, President, British Knitting and Clothing Export Council, later visited Rael Brook (Group) Limited, Rael Brook House, Buckley Street, Droylsden, Manchester.

The Princess Royal this afternoon attended the Centenary celebrations of the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal, Quay West, Trafford Wharf, Manchester.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, the National Autistic Society, afterwards visited a parents and carers meeting of the Manchester Group at St Matthew's Church Hall, Stretford, Manchester.

Lady Carew-Pole was in attendance.

KENSINGTON PALACE

20 May: The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon today visited Hereford and was received by her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Hereford and Worcester (Mr Thomas Dunne).

Her Royal Highness visited Hereford Fire Station.

The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon later attended a Service in celebration of the 1200th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Ethelbert, King and Martyr, in the Cathedral Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary and St Ethelbert in Hereford.

The Lady Glenconner was in attendance.

YORK HOUSE

20 May: The Duchess of Kent, Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, the Royal Logistic Corps, this morning visited Bicester Garrison and Base Ordnance Depot, Bicester, Oxfordshire.

Mrs Julian Tomkins was in attendance.

Lord High Commissioner

20 May: Her Grace The Lord Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Lady Fraser, today arrived in Edinburgh to take up residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Her Grace then inspected the Guard of Honour provided by the 1st Battalion Queen's Own Highlanders. She was accompanied by Sir William Kerr Fraser.

In the evening there was a reception for 250 guests and the Ceremony of the Keys took place.

Among the dinner guests at the Palace of Holyroodhouse were:

The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh and Mrs Norman Irons; The Lord Chancellor and Lady Mackay of Clashfern; The Moderator and Dr Anne Weatherhead; The Earl of Wemyss and March; The Secretary of State for Scotland and Mrs Ian Lang; The Right Hon Lord and Lady Ross; Sir Robin and Lady Butler; Dame Gillian Wagner; The Right Rev Dr Adlyn White; Mr and Mrs Angus Grossart; The Principal Clerk and Mrs Gordon McGillivray; The Rev and Mrs John Sherrard.

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Duke of York today reopens the Richmond Lock and Weir, Richmond, Surrey.

Changing of the Guard

TODAY: The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards, 11am; 7 Company Coldstream Guards mounts the Queen's Guard, at Buckingham Palace, 11.30am, band provided by the Scots Guards. TOMORROW: The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards, 10am; 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards mounts the Queen's Guard, at Buckingham Palace, 11.30am, band provided by the Irish Guards.