Court Circular

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

2 December: Mr Justice Blackburne was received by The Queen upon his appointment as a Justice of the High Court when Her Majesty conferred upon him the honour of Knighthood and invested him with the Insignia of a Knight Bachelor.

The Viscount Astor was received by The Queen and took leave upon relinquishing his appointment as Lord-in- Waiting to Her Majesty.

The Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish was received by The Queen upon his appointment as Lord-in-Waiting to Her Majesty.

His Excellency Dr Walter Magrutsch and Mrs Magrutsch were received in farewell audience by Her Majesty and took leave upon His Excellency relinquishing his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Austria to the Court of St James's.

Mr Alex Miller (winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize) was received by The Queen.

Dr Humayun Khan (Director of the Commonwealth Foundation) was present.

Mr Richard Wilson (Permanent Secretary, Department of the Environment) was received by Her Majesty.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh this evening attended the Annual Reception of the Nikaean Club at Lambeth Palace and were received by the Chairman (Sir Peter Marshall) and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Duchess of Grafton, the Right Hon Sir Robert Fellowes and Lieutenant- Colonel Blair Stewart-Wilson were in

attendance.

By command of The Queen, Mr Peter Nelson (Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex) was present at Gatwick Airport, London, this evening upon the Departure of The Duchess of Kent for the Seychelles and bade farewell to Her Royal Highness on behalf of Her Majesty.

2 December: The Prince Edward, Trustee, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, today gave a Luncheon at Buckingham Palace.

2 December: The Princess Royal, President, Save the Children Fund, this afternoon attended a Royal Reception and Luncheon at Mary Datchelor House, 17 Grove Lane, Camberwell, London SE5.

Mrs Andrew Feilden was in attendance.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Dunn Nutrition Centre, later opened the centre's interim research facilities for clinical nutritional research at New Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire (Mr James Crowden).

The Princess Royal, President, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, accompanied by Commander Timothy Laurence RN, this evening attended a Reception and City Dinner at the Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London EC2.

Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Gibbs was in attendance.

ST JAMES'S PALACE

2 December: The Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief, The Army Air Corps, received Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Simkins upon relinquishing his appointment as Commanding Officer 4 Regiment and Lieutenant-Colonel David Joyce upon assuming the appointment.

His Royal Highness, President, The Prince's Trust, this morning held a meeting at St James's Palace with major employers of young people to discuss The Prince's Trust Volunteers programme.

The Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Regiment of Wales, subsequently received Lieutenant-Colonel Mervyn Lloyd upon relinquishing his appointment as Commanding Officer 4th Battalion.

His Royal Highness this afternoon visited Kentish Town to see the work of Neighbourhood Energy Action and attended a Reception to mark Conservenergy Week at the Interchange Studios, Dalby Street, London NW5.

Mr Matthew Butler was in attendance.

The Prince of Wales later presented the Binney Memorial Awards at Goldsmiths' Hall, London EC2.

Commander Robert Fraser RN was in attendance.

His Royal Highness, President, Business in the Community, this evening gave a Reception for sponsors of the Urban Villages Forum at St James's Palace.

KENSINGTON PALACE

2 December: The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was present this evening at 'Advent in Knightsbridge', a concert to launch the St Paul's Church Appeal, held at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, SW1.

The Countess Alexander of Tunis was in attendance.

2 December: The Duke of Gloucester this morning presented the Ministry of Defence Civilian Apprentice Awards for 1993 at the Ministry of Defence, Whitehall, London SW1.

Major Nicholas Barne was in attendance.

YORK HOUSE

2 December: The Duke of Kent this evening attended the Army Board Dinner at Her Majesty's Tower of London, London EC3.

Mr Nicolas Adamson was in attendance.

The Duchess of Kent this evening departed Lodnon Gatwick for the Republic of the Seychelles.

Mrs Peter Troughton was in attendance.

THATCHED HOUSE LODGE

2 December: Princess Alexandra, Deputy Honorary Colonel, this evening visited the Headquarters of The Royal Yeomanry at the Duke of York's Headquarters, King's Road, London SW3.

Rear-Admiral Sir John Garnier was in attendance.

Luncheon

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh today held a Lunch Party at Buckingham Palace. The guests were:

Miss Christine Hancock (General Secretary, Royal College of Nursing); Miss Gayle Hunnicutt (actress); Dr Oscar Craig (Former President, Royal College of Radiologists); The Hon Robin Dixon (Chairman, Northern Ireland Tall Ships Council 1991); Mr Charles Nunneley (Deputy Chairman, Robert Fleming Holdings Limited); Professor Michael Sandle (sculptor); Mr Hasmuth Shah (International Trustee, World Council of Hindus); Mr Gordon Wilson (father of the late Marie Wilson).

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Queen visits HMS Lancaster in the Pool of London. The Duke of Edinburgh attends a ceremony to launch HMCC Sentinel at Portchester Shipyard, Hampshire. The Prince of Wales, on behalf of the Queen, holds an investiture; and as President, Business in the Community, attends a meeting with business leaders and community representatives who have participated in the 'Seeing is Believing' programme, at St James's Palace. The Princess of Wales, Patron, Headway National Head Injuries Association, attends a lunch at the London Hilton Hotel, London W1. The Princess Royal, Patron, The British School of Osteopathy, attends a Graduation Ceremony at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, London WC2; and opens the new Inter-Action Centre aboard HMS President (1918), London EC4. Princess Margaret, President, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, visits the Devon Child Protection Centre, Plymouth, Devon; and attends a banquet in aid of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children at the Moat House Hotel, Plymouth, Devon. The Duchess of Gloucester visits Dalton Abbeyfield House for the Elderly, Dalton-in-Furness; visits Kendal College, Kendal; and opens Georgian House, Probation Office and Resource Centre, Carlisle, Cumbria. The Duke of Kent, Vice-Chairman, British Overseas Trade Board, visits Dennis Specialist Vehicles, Slyfield Industrial Estate, Slyfield, Surrey, and as Chancellor, Surrey University, presides at the conferment of degrees ceremony at Guildford Cathedral followed by dinner for the honorary graduates, at the university.

Changing of the Guard

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards, 11am; 1st Battalion Irish Guards mounts the Queen's Guard, at Buckingham Palace, 11.30am, band provided by the Scots Guards.