Court Circular

SANDRINGHAM

17 January: By command of The Queen, Sir Ashley Ponsonby Bt (Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Oxfordshire) was present at Royal Air Force Brize Norton this afternoon upon the Departure of The King and Queen of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and bade farewell to Their Majesties on behalf of Her Majesty.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

17 January: The Duke of York, Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Irish Regiment, this afternoon received Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Baxter upon assuming his appointment as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion.

Afterwards The Duke of York received Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Thom upon relinquishing his appointment as Commanding Officer, 8th Battalion, and Lieutenant-Colonel Kevin Hodgson upon assuming the appointment.

Subsequently His Royal Highness received Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Glover upon relinquishing his appointment as Commanding Officer, 4/5 Rangers, and Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Sturgeon upon assuming the appointment.

17 January: The Prince Edward, President, the Lord's Taverners, this evening attended the Umpires' Dinner at the London Hilton, Park Lane, London W1.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sean O'Dwyer was in attendance.

ST JAMES'S PALACE

17 January: The Prince of Wales, Honorary Commodore, HM Coastguard Service, this afternoon visited the Aberdeen Coastguard, Blaikies Quay, Aberdeen, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord- Lieutenant for the City of Aberdeen (Mr James Wyness, the Lord Provost).

Commander Robert Fraser RN was in attendance.

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Duke of York visits Cottesmore St Mary's Primary School, Hove, East Sussex. The Princess Royal, Patron, Spinal Injuries Association, participates in the UK Oil and Gas Industry Quiz Evening, Grosvenor House Hotel, London W1. The Duchess of Kent opens the Lordship Science Centre at Writtle Agricultural College, Chelmsford; visits Lane Cottage Community Home for Children, Walton-on-the-Naze, and Acorn Village, Manningtree, Essex; and, as Patron, attends a dinner in aid of the Epilepsy Research Foundation at the House of Lords, London SW1.

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 Grenadier Guards.

Windsor Castle

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