Court Circular

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

29 April: The President of the Portuguese Republic and Senhora Soares this morning visited Oxford University and were received by Her Majesty's Lord- Lieutenant for Oxfordshire (Sir Ashley Ponsonby Bt) and the Chancellor (the Lord Jenkins of Hillhead).

The President of Portuguese Republic was admitted as a Doctor of Civil Law and subsequently Their Excellencies attended a Reception in the Divinity School.

The President of the Portuguese Republic and Senhora Soares were entertained at Luncheon by the Chancellor in the Founder's Library, New College (Dr Harvey McGregor, Warden).

Their Excellencies this afternoon visited the Ashmolean Museum and were received by the Director (Professor CJ White).

The President of the Portuguese Republic and Senhora Soares later visited Bladon Church and were received by the Duke of Marlborough (Patron of the Living), the Lady Soames and the Reverend Canon John Beckwith (Priest in Charge), where His Excellency laid a Wreath on the Grave of Sir Winston Churchill.

The President of the Portuguese Republic and Senhora Soares afterwards visited Blenheim Palace where Their Excellencies were received by the Duchess of Marlborough and entertained to tea.

His Excellency Monsieur Joseph Weyland was received in audience by The Queen and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the Court of St James's.

His Excellency was accompanied by the following member of the Embassy: Mr Paul Steinmetz (First Secretary).

Madame Weyland was also received by Her Majesty.

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

Colonel Michael Evans was received by The Queen upon relinquishing his appointment as Commanding Officer, the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry, and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon Philip Seccombe on assuming the appointment.

Mr Stephen Wall was received in audience by The Queen and kissed hands upon his appointment as Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Lisbon.

Mrs Wall was also received by Her Majesty.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were entertained by The President of the Portuguese Republic and Senhora Soares this evening at a Banquet at the Portuguese Embassy, 12 Belgrave Square, London SW1.

The Duke of Edinburgh this morning visited Capel Manor Horticultural and Environmental Centre, Enfield, Middlesex.

Brigadier Miles Hunt-Davis was in attendance.

His Royal Highness, Captain General Royal Marines, this afternoon attended a Luncheon in support of the Royal Marines Museum Heritage Appeal, the Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, London SW1.

Major Ian Grant RM was in attendance.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Honorary Life Member, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, later presented The Prince Philip Award for 1992 and Certificates of Merit for Research and Development in the field of Dairy Farming at Buckingham Palace.

His Royal Highness was represented by Mr Maldwin Drummond at the Memorial Service of Major Peter Snowden which was held in Holy Trinity Church, West Cowes, today.

29 April: The Prince Edward, Chairman, the International Council of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Association, this morning arrived at Heathrow Airport, London, from Mauritius.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sean O'Dwyer was in attendance.

29 April: The Princess Royal, Patron, the Butler Trust, this morning visited Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institution, Castington, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Northumberland (the Viscount Ridley).

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Sense, the National Deaf-Blind and Rubella Association, this afternoon opened the Deaf-Blind Centre, Northern Counties School for the Deaf, Newcastle, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear (Colonel Sir Ralph Carr-Ellison).

The Princess Royal, President, Save the Children Fund, visited the Pennywell Neighbourhood Centre, Sunderland.

Lady Carew Pole was in attendance.

Her Royal Highness, President, this evening attended the inaugural Dinner of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Balmoral Hotel, Princes Street, Edinburgh, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for the City of Edinburgh (Mr Norman Irons, the Right Hon the Lord Provost). Mrs David Bowes- Lyon was in attendance.

CLARENCE HOUSE

29 April: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother today visited Newmarket and in the morning opened Jim Joel Court, built under the auspices of Racing Welfare Charities.

The Lady Angela Oswald and Sir Alasdair Aird were in attendance.

ST JAMES'S PALACE

29 April: The Prince of Wales today visited Cambridge and was received by Mr Michael Marshall (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire).

His Royal Highness this morning visited Xaar Printing Technologies, Cambridge Science Park.

The Prince of Wales later visited Marshall of Cambridge, Newmarket Road.

Mr Hugh Merrill was in attendance.

His Royal Highness this afternoon received the Secretary of State for the Home Department (the Right Hon Kenneth Clarke MP), the Secretary of State for Employment (the Right Hon Gillian Shephard MP) and the Minister of State for Home Affairs (Mr Michael Jack MP) at St James's Palace.

The Prince of Wales this evening gave a Reception for the Working Group on Innovation and the judges of The Prince of Wales Award for Innovation.

Later the Prince and Princess of Wales were entertained at a Banquet given by the President of the Portuguese Republic and Senhora Soares at the Portuguese Embassy, 12 Belgrave Square, London SW1.

KENSINGTON PALACE

29 April: The Princess of Wales, Patron, Turning Point, this morning attended a Briefing at the Home Office, Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1.

Mr Patrick Jephson was in attendance.

29 April: The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, President, the Girl Guides Association, held a Reception at Kensington Palace this afternoon following the presentation of Brooches to those who have become Queen's Guides. The Lady Juliet Townsend was in attendance.

Her Royal Highness was entertained this evening at a Banquet given by The President of the Portuguese Republic and Senhora Soares, at the Portuguese Embassy, 12 Belgrave Square, London SW1.

29 April: The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were entertained this evening at a Banquet given by The President of the Portuguese Republic and Senhora Soares at the Portuguese Embassy, 12 Belgrave Square, London SW1.

YORK HOUSE

29 April: The Duke and Duchess of Kent were entertained this evening at a Banquet given by the Portuguese President and Senhora Soares at the Portuguese Embassy, 12 Belgrave Square, London SW1.

THATCHED HOUSE LODGE

29 April: Princess Alexandra this afternoon opened the new surgical block of Benenden Hospital for the Post Office and Civil Service Sanatorium Society at Benenden, Kent.

Her Royal Highness was received by the Countess Mountbatten of Burma (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Kent).

The Lady Nicholas Gordon Lennox was in attendance.

Princess Alexandra and the Hon Sir Angus Ogilvy were entertained this evening at a Banquet given by the President of the Portuguese Republic and Senhora Soares at the Portuguese Embassy, 12 Belgrave Square, London SW1.

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Princess Royal, Visitor, St Mary's Cathedral Workshop, visits the workshop in Edinburgh; and later, as President, the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, opens the new offices of Ernst & Young. The Duke and The Duchess of Kent attend a Dinner to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the Thames Valley Police Force, at the Spreadeagle Hotel, Thame, Oxfordshire.

Changing of the Guard

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards, 11am; 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards mounts the Queen's Guard, at Buckingham Palace, 11.30am, band provided by the Irish Guards.