Court Circular

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

18 May: The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe this morning at Buckingham Palace received the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Minister for Overseas Development).

His Excellency afterwards received the Chief Executive of RTZ Corporation (Mr Robert Wilson).

The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe subsequently received the Right Hon Paddy Ashdown MP (Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party).

His Excellency drove to St James's Palace in a Carriage Procession, accompanied by a Captain's Escort of the Household Cavalry with Standard, and received High Commissioners of the Commonwealth Countries and Ambassadors accredited to the Court of St James's.

The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe visited No 10 Downing Street for talks with the Prime Minister.

Afterwards His Excellency was entertained to Luncheon by the Prime Minister on behalf of Her Majesty's

Government.

The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe this afternoon visited Sally Mugabe House, 69 Bellenden Road, Peckham, London SE15, and was received by Dr Pat Tettey (Co-ordinator of the Southwark Phoenix Women's Health Organisation) and the Mayor of Southwark (Councillor Cecile Lothian).

His Excellency unveiled a commemorative plaque and toured the house, and was subsequently entertained to tea by the Mayor of Southwark at the Town Hall.

The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe later at Buckingham Palace received the Right Hon Michael Heseltine MP (President of the Board of Trade).

His Excellency afterwards received the Lord Carrington.

The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe this evening received an Address of Welcome at a Court of Common Council and afterwards was entertained at a Banquet by the Right Hon the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London at Guildhall.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent were present.

The Right Hon Sir Ninian Stephen was received by The Queen when Her Majesty invested him with the Insignia of a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

Sir Christopher MacRae was received in audience by The Queen upon his appointment as British High Commissioner to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Lady MacRae was received by Her Majesty.

His Excellencey Mr Aubrey Hart was received in audience by The Queen upon his appointment as High Commissioner for the Eastern Caribbean States in

London.

Her Majesty held a Council at 12.40pm.

There were present:

The Right Hon Antony Newton MP (Lord President), the Right Hon Michael Heseltine MP (Secretary of State for Trade and Industry), the Right Hon John MacGregor MP (Secretary of State for Transport), and the Right Hon Alastair Goodlad MP (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth

Office).

The Right Hon Sir Vincent Floissac and Sir Peter Millett were sworn in as Members of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.

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

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

Her Majesty, Patron, the Family Welfare Association, accompanied by The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, this evening attended a Concert and Reception at St James's Palace and was received by the Chairman (Miss Anne Dickinson).

The Lady Elton, the Lady Glenconner, the Right Hon Sir Robert Fellowes and Lieutenant-Colonel Blair Stewart-Wilson were in attendance.

The Duke of Edinburgh, President, Central Council of Physical Recreation, this morning attended the 1994 Annual General Meeting at Merchant Taylors' Hall, London EC2.

Brigadier Miles Hunt-Davis was in

attendance.

His Royal Highness, Grand President, this afternoon chaired a Council Meeting of the British Commonwealth Ex-Services League at Buckingham Palace.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron, this evening attended the Anglo-Swedish Society Ball at the Hurlingham Club, London SW6.

Major Charles Richards was in

attendance.

KENSINGTON PALACE

18 May: The Duke of Gloucester this evening opened the Exhibition 'British Landscape Watercolours (1750-1850)' at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

His Royal Highness was received on arrival by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire (Mr James Crowden).

Major Nicholas Barne was in

attendance.

The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron, Iris Fund (for Prevention of Blindness), today received Mrs Susanna Burr on relinquishing her appointment as Executive Director of the Fund.

The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron, Royal Surgical Aid Society, this evening attended a performance by Pavilion Opera in aid of Bishops House Nursing Home at Drapers' Hall, Throgmorton Street, London EC4.

Mrs Michael Wigley was in attendance.

YORK HOUSE

18 May: The Duke of Kent, Royal Patron, the Anglo-German Association, this afternoon attended a luncheon given by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgrave Square, London SW1.

Mr Nicolas Adamson was in

attendance.

The Duchess of Kent this morning opened the new Department of Rheumatology, the Royal London Hospice (Mile End), Bancroft Road, London E1.

Mrs Colin Marsh was in attendance.

THATCHED HOUSE LODGE

18 May: Princess Alexandra, Patron of the Dystonia Society, this afternoon visited the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1.

The Lady Mary Mumford was in

attendance.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, later received Mr Trevor Owen upon retiring as Chairman of the Bethlem Royal Hospital and Maudsley Hospital Special Health Authority and Mr Bernard Williams on assuming the appointment of Chairman of the Bethlem and Maudsley NHS Trust.

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Queen lunches with the members of the Executive Committee of the Army Board at the Officers' Mess, The King's Troop, London NW8; and visits HMS Cottesmore in the Pool of London. The Duke of Edinburgh visits Corby, Northamptonshire; and as Patron, Game Conservancy Trust, visits the Allerton Research and Educational Trust, Loddington, Leicestershire. The Prince of Wales, Patron, Museum of Garden History: the Tradescant Trust, opens 'The Painted Garden' Exhibition at Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1. The Princess Royal, President, Animal Health Trust, attends the Industry Committee Meeting at Buckingham Palace; as President, Rural Housing Trust, opens the English Village Housing Association Scheme at Barnfield, Fingringhoe, Essex; as President, Rural Housing Trust, opens the English Village Housing Association Scheme at Hill Fields, Layer-de-la-Haye, Essex; as President, Save the Children Fund, attends a 75th Birthday Tea Party Celebration at Berni Spain Gardens, London SE1; and as President, Save the Children Fund, attends a 75th Birthday Reception at Coutts & Co, London WC2. Princess Margaret visits the Devon County Show at Westpoint, Exeter, Devon. The Duke of Kent, Patron, British Menswear Guild, attends the annual luncheon at the Royal Automobile Club, London SW1. Princess Alexandra opens the new wing of Lee House, Wimbledon, London SW19.

Changing of the Guard

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