Court Circular

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

19 July: Mr David Brighty was received in audience by The Queen and kissed hands upon his appointment as Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Spain.

Miss Maeve Fort (Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Lebanese Republic) was received by The Queen.

Her Majesty held a Council at 12.40pm.

There were present:

The Right Hon Antony Newton MP (Lord President), the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office), the Right Hon John Gummer MP (Secretary of State for the Environment), the Right Hon Sir John Wheeler MP (Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office) and the Right Hon Brian Mawhinney MP (Minister of State, Department of Health).

Mr Nigel Nicholls was in attendance as Clerk of the Council.

The Right Hon Antony Newton MP had an audience of The Queen before Council.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh gave an Afternoon Party in the Garden of Buckingham Palace.

The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy and the Hon Sir Angus Ogilvy were present.

Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and The Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard were on duty.

The Bands of the Blues and Royals and the 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment played selections of music during the afternoon.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron and Trustee, this evening attended a Duke of Edinburgh's Award World Fellowship Dinner at St James's Palace.

Major Charles Richards was in attendance.

The Lady Elton has succeeded the Lady Susan Hussey as Lady-in-Waiting to The Queen.

The Prince Edward, Trustee, The Duke of Edinbrugh's Award International Foundation, this afternoon gave a Luncheon at Buckingham Palace.

His Royal Highness, Patron, this evening took the Salute at the Royal Tournament, Earls Corut, Warwick Road, London SW5.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sean O'Dwyer was in attendance.

19 July: The Princess Royal, Patron, the National Autistic Society, this morning opened the Early Years Diagnostic Centre, 272 Longdale Lane, Ravenshead, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire (Sir Andrew Buchanan Bt).

Lady Carew-Pole was in attendance.

Her Royal Highness, Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), this afternoon received Lieutenant-Colonel William Sylvester upon relinquishing his appointment as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion.

CLARENCE HOUSE

19 July: The Lady Angela Oswald has succeeded Dame Frances Campbell-Preston as Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

ST JAMES'S PALACE

19 July: The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, this morning presided at a meeting of The Prince's Council at 10 Buckingham Gate, London SW1.

Commander Richard Aylard RN and Mr John James were in attendance.

KENSINGTON PALACE

19 July: The Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda and Lady Carlisle were today received by The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, Patron, The Clarence House Restoration Trust, and remained to Luncheon.

19 July: The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester today visited the East of England Show, Peterborough, and were received on arrival by Her Majesty's Lord- Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire (Mr James Crowden).

Miss Suzanne Marland and Major Nicholas Barne were in attendance.

YORK HOUSE

19 July: The Duchess of Kent this evening was admitted as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, Wimpole Street, London W1.

Fiona, Lady Astor of Hever was in attendance.

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Queen holds an investiture; and attends a garden party at Marlborough House, London SW1, to mark the re-entry of South Africa into the Commonwealth. The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron and Trustee, attends a Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme dinner at the Dorchester Hotel London W1. The Queen Mother attends a service in Westminster Abbey to mark the return of South Africa to the Commonwealth. The Princess Royal, Master, Worshipful Company of Woolmen, attends the Royal Welsh Show, Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys. Princess Margaret attends the Royal Tournament at Earl's Court Exhibition Centre, London SW5; and as President, Royal Ballet, attends a performance by the Royal Ballet School at Holland Park Open Air Theatre, London W8. The Duke of Kent, Chancellor, attends a dinner to mark the retirement of the Vice-Chancellor of Surrey University, Guildford, Surrey.

Buckingham Palace

The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace opens between 10am and 5pm, and last admission is at 4.30pm. The Royal Mews opens between 12pm and 4pm, and last admission is at 3.30pm.

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.

Windsor Castle

The Precincts and State Apartments at Windsor Castle open between 10am and 6pm. Bands playing in the Royal Parks

St James's Park, Ladies' Palm Court Orchestra, 12.30pm-2pm, 5.30pm-7pm; Regent's Park (Queen Mary's Rose Garden), Frannie Verney and Friends, 6pm-7.30pm.