Court Circular

BUCKINGHAM PALACE 17 October: The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh this afternoon arrived at Vnukovo Airport, Moscow, and were received by Mr Oleg Soskovets (First Deputy Prime Minister, the Russian Federation) and Madame Soskovets.

Having inspected a Guard of Honour, Her Majesty, with His Royal Highness, drove to the Kremlin and was received by The President of the Russian Federation and Madame Yeltsina.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, with The President and Madame Yeltsina, this evening attended a Gala Performance of Giselle at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Afterwards Her Majesty and His Royal Highness attended a Reception at the British Embassy given by Sir Brian Fall (Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary) and Lady Fall.

18 October: The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, this morning laid a Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solder in the Alexander Gardens, Moscow, and was received by General Lieutenant Nikolai Smirnov (Commander of the Moscow Garrison).

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness afterwards toured the Kremlin historical apartments, escorted by The President of the Russian Federation and Madame Yeltsina.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited the Cathedral of the Assumption and were received by His Holiness Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and All Russians.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness, with The President of the Russian Federation and Madame Yeltsina, subsequently walked across Red Square and were received at St Basil's Cathedral by the Mayor of Moscow (Mr Yuri Luzhkov).

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by Mr Luzhkov, this afternoon visited the Old English Embassy and viewed an Exhibition on the history of relations between Britain and Russia.

Her Majesty afterwards unveiled a commemorative plaque.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh later visited Special Secondary School No 20 and were received by the Director (Mr Evgeniy Protasov).

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness afterwards attended a Reception for the British business community in Moscow at the Maly Theatre.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were entertained by The President of the Russian Federation and Madame Yeltsina this evening at a State Banquet in the Great Kremlin Palace.

The Duke of Edinburgh this afternoon visited the Russian Acadmey of Sciences and was received by the President (Academician Yuri Osipov).

By Command of The Queen, the Viscount Boyne (Lord-in-Waiting) was present at Heathrow Airport, London, this afternoon upon the Arrival of the Governor-General of Barbados and welcomed Her Excellency on behalf of Her Majesty.

18 October: The Prince Edward, Trustee, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, this afternoon attended a Reception for the International Leadership Reunion at St James's Palace.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sean O'Dwyer was in attendance.

18 October: The Princess Royal today visited Oban and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Argyll and Bute (Colonel Archibald Fletcher).

Her Royal Highness this morning opened the Highland Cattle Society's Highland Cattle Sale at the Livestock Centre.

The Princess Royal later visited Oban distillery, Stafford Street, during its Two Hundredth Anniversary Year.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Northern Lighthouse Board, this afternoon visited Oban Northern Lighthouse Board Depot, Gallanach Road.

The Princess Royal afterwards visited HM Coastguard, Boswell House, Argyll Square.

Her Royal Highness, President, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, this evening attended a Fund-Raising Dinner at Turnberry Hotel, Girvan, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Ayrshire and Arran (Major Richard Henderson).

Mrs Charles Ritchie was in attendance.

KENSINGTON PALACE 18 October: The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron, National Missing Persons Helpline, was present this evening at a Reception at Imagination Gallery, 25 Store Street, South Crescent, London WC1.

Mrs Howard Page was in attendance.

YORK HOUSE 18 October: The Duchess of Kent, Patron, Downing College, this afternoon opened Howard Court, Downing College, Cambridge and was met on arrival by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Cambridge (Mr James Crowden).

Her Royal Highness this evening attended a dinner for Fellows, Downing College, Cambridge.

Mrs Peter Troughton was in attendance.