Court Circular

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

15 December: Mr Patrick Nixon was received in audience by The Queen upon his appointment as British High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia.

Mrs Nixon was also received by Her Majesty.

His Excellency Mr Austin Sealy was received in audience by The Queen upon his appointment as High Commissioner for Barbados in London.

General Colin Powell, United States Army, was received by Her Majesty when the Queen invested him with the Insignia of an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

Mrs Powell was also received by Her Majesty.

The Queen, Patron, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, this evening attended a Reception at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7, to mark the Ninetieth Anniversary of the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society and was received by the Chairman (David Jones).

The Duchess of Grafton, Mr Robin Janvrin and Lieutenant-Colonel Blair Stewart-Wilson were in attendance.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron and Trustee, today attended Receptions at St James's Palace for Young People who have reached the Gold Standard in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

His Royal Highness, Patron, British Trust for Ornithology, this afternoon attended a Luncheon to launch The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London SW1.

The Lord Buxtonof Alsa , Wing Commander Christopher Moran RAF and Major Charles Richards were in attendance.

15 December: The Princess Royal, President, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, this morning attended the launch of Sutton Carers Centre, the Civic Offices, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, the Association of Combined Youth Clubs, this afternoon attended a Charity Christmas Luncheon at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London W1.

The Princess Royal, Patron, the British Nutrition Foundation, later attended a Seminar on Nutrition in Developing Countries at the Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London W1.

The Hon Mrs Legge-Bourke was in attendance.

ST JAMES'S PALACE

15 December: The Prince of Wales, President, The Prince's Trust, this morning attended a Conference on Study Support Centres at the Sarah Bonnell School, Deanery Road, Stratford, London E15.

His Royal Highness afterwards opened the new technology village at the school.

Mr Stephen Lamport was in attendance.

The Prince of Wales, Chairman of Trustees, this afterwards presented diplomas to Foundation Course students of The Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture at St James's Palace.

His Royal Highness, Patron, Macmillan Nurse Appeal, this evening attended a Carol Concert at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London SW1.

Miss Belinda Harley was in attendance.

THATCHED HOUSE LODGE

15 December: Princess Alexandra, Patron of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, this evening met members of the Pearl Anniversary Committee at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London SW1.

Her Royal Highness, President, and the Hon Sir Angus Ogilvy later attended the Christmas Party of the Friends of the V & A at the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London SW7.

Rear Admiral Sir John Garnier was in attendance.

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Princess of Wales, Patron, Centrepoint Soho, attends the Annual General Meeting and 25th Anniversary Year Launch at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London SW1. The Duke of York attends a dinner to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, Mansion House, London EC2. The Princess Royal attends the Decommissioning Ceremony of Her Majesty's Ship Jersey at Her Majesty's Naval Base, Rosyth, Fife. Princess Margaret attends 'Joy to the World' in aid of Invalid Children's Aid Nationwide, of which Her Royal Highness is President, and the Royal Marsden Children's Unit, Sutton, at the Royal Albert Hall, London SW7. The Duchess of Kent attends the Christmas Celebrations, Westminster Cathedral, London SW1. Princess Michael of Kent attends the Worshipful Company of Weavers Christmas Party at Weavers House, London E11. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Guests of Honour, attend a performance in aid of the World Wide Fund for Nature by the Philharmonia Orchestra of Verdi's Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall, London SE1, followed by a dinner at the Banqueting House, London SW1.

Buckingham Palace

The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace opens between 10am and 5pm.

Changing of the Guard

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards, 11am.

Windsor Castle

The Precincts at Windsor Castle open between 10am and 4pm, and the State Apartments between 10.30am and 3pm.