Court Circular

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

24 May: His Excellency Mr Tom Vraalsen was received in audience by The Queen and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Kingdom of Norway to the Court of St James's.

His Excellency was accompanied by the following members of the Embassy:

Mr Oystein Braathen (Minister-Counsellor), Mr Harald Torum (Counsellor), Miss Tanja Hegge (Second Secretary), Mr Terje Lobach (Counsellor), Colonel Per Aunass (Defence Attache), Mr Tore Gulli (Counsellor) and Mr Geir Solberg (Counsellor).

Mrs Vraalsen was also received by Her Majesty.

Sir David Gillmore (Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) was present and the Household in Waiting were in attendance.

Mr Peter Fowler (British High Commissioner to the People's Republic of Bangladesh) and Mrs Fowler were received by The Queen.

Mr Mark Elliott was received in audience by The Queen and kissed hands upon his appointment as Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Norway.

Mrs Elliott was also received by Her Majesty.

The Right Hon John Major MP (Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury) had an audience of The Queen this evening.

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, Honorary Member, this evening attended the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary Banquet of the Baltic Exchange at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

Sir Brian McGrath was in attendance.

The Duke of Edinburgh was represented by Major-General Bernard Gordon Lennox at the Memorial Service for Colonel Sir Thomas Butler Bt, which was held in the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, today.

The Hon Mary Morrison has succeeded the Lady Elton as Lady-in-Waiting to The Queen.

24 May: The Prince Edward, Chairman, International Council, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Association, this afternoon gave a Luncheon at Buckingham Palace.

His Royal Highness, Chairman, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Special Projects Group, this evening held a meeting at Buckingham Palace.

24 May: The Princess Royal, President, Riding for the Disabled Association, this morning opened the new premises of the Stella Hancock Driving Group, Hilldise Manor Farm, Shere Road, West Horsley, Guildford, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Surrey (Mr Richard Thornton).

Her Royal Highness, Chancellor, University of London, this afternoon opened the Fujitsu Parallel Computing Research Centre, the Department of Computing, Imperial College, London SW7.

Mrs William Nunneley was in attendance.

The Princess Royal, Colonel-in-Chief, Royal Logistic Corps, this afternoon recieved Major-General Colin Arrinton upon relinquishing his appointment as Representative Colonel commandant and Major-General David Botting upon assuming the appointment.

Her Royal Highness, President, Save the Children Fund, this evening attended a Seventy-Fifth Private Appeal Dinner at Buckingham Palace.

CLARENCE HOUSE

24 May: Dame Frances Campbell-Preston has succeeded Mrs Michael Gordon- Lennox as Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

ST JAMES'S PALACE

24 May: The Prince of Wales this morning visited Swansea and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for West Glamorgan (Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Michael Llewellyn Bt).

His Royal Highness, President, Business in the Community, opened an 'Aim High' conference on board HMY Britannia.

The Prince of Wales later visited the Tawe Barrage.

His Royal Highness, Chairman, The Prince of Wales' Committee, afterwards visited the Old Telephone Exchange.

The Prince of Wales subsequently received the Freedom of the City of Swansea at the Guildhall.

His Royal Highness this afternoon visited Llanelli and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Dyfed (Mr David Mansel Lewis).

The Prince of Wales, President, The Prince's Trust, viewed an Exhibition of the work of his trusts in West Wales at Parc Howard.

Commander Richard Aylard RN and Mr Matthew Butler were in attendance.

This evening His Royal Highness gave a Reception for the media in Wales on board HMY Britannia.

The Prince of Wales later gave a Dinner for the Welsh Development Agency on board HMY Britannia.

KENSINGTON PALACE

24 May: The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon today visited Royal Air Force, Locking, and was received on arrival by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for the County of Avon (Sir John Wills Bt).

The Hon Mrs Wills and Major The Lord Napier and Ettrick were in attendance.

24 May: The Duke of Gloucester, President, East Midlands Tourist Board, today visited tourist sites in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.

His Royal Highness was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Lincolnshire (Captain Sir Henry Nevile) and for Leicestershire (Mr Timothy Brooks).

Major Nicholas Barne was in attendance.

The Duchess of Gloucester this morning visited the Safety Centre and Hazard Alley, Milton Keynes and was received on arrival by her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire, Commander the Lord Cottesloe.

In the afternoon Her Royal Highness opened Acorn House, headquarters of Milton Keynes Community Trust.

Mrs Euan McCorquodale was in attendance.

YORK HOUSE

24 May: The Duke of Kent, Trustee, this morning attended the opening of the City Limits Exhibition, the Science Museum, London SW7.

His Royal Highness this afternoon attended a lecture at the Royal United Services Institute, Whitehall, London SW1.

Captain Alexander Tetley was in attendance.

The Duchess of Kent, Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, the Adjutant General's Corps, this morning visited Tidworth Garrison, Tidworth, Wiltshire, and was met on arrival by Major Robin Brockbank (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire).

Her Royal Highness this afternoon visited Bulford Garrison, Bulford, Wiltshire.

Fiona, Lady Astor of Hever was in attendance.

THATCHED HOUSE LODGE

24 May: Princess Alexandra this afternoon visited an Exhibition marking the 50th Anniversary of D-Day at Bentalls, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.