Court Circular

HM YACHT BRITANNIA 19 October: The Queen this morning visited St Andrew's Anglican Church, Moscow, and was received by the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe (The Right Reverend John Hind) and the Reverend Chad Coussmaker (Resident Canon).

Her Majesty later visited the site of the new British Embassy and, having been received by the Mayor of Moscow (Mr Yuri Luzhkov), unveiled a commemorative stone and viewed a model of the new building.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh this afternoon arrived by air in St Petersburg and were received by the Governor of Leningrad Region (Mr AS Belyakov) and the Mayor of St Petersburg (Mr Anatoly Sobchak.) Her Majesty and His Royal Highness drove to the Catherine Palace, Pushkin, and were received by the Director (Mr Ivan Sautov) and viewed the restoration work in the Palace.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh later visited St Petersburg University and were received by the Rector (Professor Ludmila Verbitskaya), where Her Majesty addressed the members of the University in the main auditorium.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness this evening attended a concert by young Russian musicians followed by a Reception for members of the British community in the Yusupov Palace.

The Duke of Edinburgh this morning visited the Convent of Martha and Mary, Moscow, and was received by the Director, Icon Restoration Centre (Mr Adolf Ovchinnikov.) His Royal Highness later called upon His Holiness Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and All Russians.

20 October: The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh this morning visited the Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, and were received by the Director (Professor Mikhail Piotrovsky).

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness afterwards travelled by the Royal Barge to the Fortress of Peter and Paul and, having been received by the Director (Mr Natalia Dementieva), visited the Cathedral.

This afternoon The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were entertained to Luncheon at the Mariinsky Palace by the Mayor of St Petersburg (Mr Anatoly Sobchak).

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness, with the President of the Russian Federation and Madame Yeltsina, later laid Wreaths at the Memorial to the victims of the Leningrad Siege at the Piskarevskoye Cemetery.

The Queen, with Madame Yeltsina, afterwards visited the St Petersburg Scientific Research Institute for Prosthetics and was received by the Director (Dr Anatoly Kier).

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness were subsequently received on board HMY Britannia by a group of young Russian professionals who had taken part in British training schemes.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh this evening gave a Banquet on board HMY Britannia in honour of The President of the Russian Federation and Madame Yeltsina.

Afterwards Her Majesty and His Royal Highness, with His Excellency and Madame Yeltsina attended a short Farewell Ceremony on the English Embankment.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh subsequently sailed for Helsinki in HMY Britannia.

The Duke of Edinburgh this afternoon visited the Russian Navy Cruiser Bespokoiny and was received by the Commander in Chief of the Navy (Admiral Feliks Nikolaevich Gromov) and Captain 2nd Rank Yevgenny Ivanovich Alyoshin (Commanding Officer).

His Royal Highness afterwards visited the Naval Museum and viewed a demonstration of equipment produced by the Russian British Marine Computer Systems joint venture.

By Command of The Queen, Mr John Hooley (Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex) was present at Gatwick Airport, London, this morning upon the arrival of the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda and welcomed His Excellency on behalf of Her Majesty.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE 20 October: The Prince Edward, Trustee, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, today gave a Luncheon at Buckingham Palace.

20 October: The Princess Royal, President, International League for the Protection of Horses, this morning attended the Annual Seminar at the Jockey Club Rooms, Newmarket, and was received by Sir John Mowbray Bt (Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk).

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Sense, the National Deaf-Blind and Rubella Association, this afternoon opened two group homes, 37 and 38 Redgate Court, Parnwell Way, Peterborough, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire (Mr James Crowden).

The Princess Royal, Chancellor, University of London, this evening attended the Foundation Day Dinner and presented Honorary Doctorates at the Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1.

Mrs Davis Bowes-Lyon was in attendance.

ST JAMES'S PALACE 20 October: The Prince of Wales, President, Business in the Community, this morning received Sir Neil Shaw.

KENSINGTON PALACE 20 October: The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, President, The Guide Association, was present this afternoon at a Reception to mark the Launch of the Association's 'Look Wider Programme' for the Senior Section, held at Commonwealth Headquarters, Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1.

The Lady Juliet Townsend was in attendance.

20 October: Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, President, The National Gardens Scheme, this afternoon received Mrs Nigel Azis on relinquishing the appointment of Chairman and Mrs John Foulsham on assuming the appointment.

The Duke of Gloucester today visited Suffolk and was received on arrival by Major-General Jack Dye (Vice Lord- Lieutenant of Suffolk).

In the morning His Royal Highness opened the Suffolk Preservation Society's Conference 'Building Design - A Sense of Place' at the Athenaeum, Bury St Edmunds.

In the afternoon The Duke of Gloucester opened the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution's residential home Manson Gardens, Northgate Street, Bury St Edmunds.

Major Nicholas Barne was in attendance.

The Duchess of Gloucester today visited Royal Air Force Uxbridge, Middlesex.

Mrs Howard Page was in attendance.

YORK HOUSE 20 October: The Duke of Kent, Vice- Chairman, the British Overseas Trade Board, this morning arrived at London Heathrow Airport from Bangkok.

The Duchess of Kent, Patron, Unicef UK, this evening attended a Recital by Eton College Boys' Choir, the Chapel, Eton College, Eton, Berkshire.

Mrs Richard Beckett was in attendance.

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS The Queen disembarks from HMY Britannia at Helsinki and calls on the President of Finland before departing by air for London. The Duke of Edinburgh disembarks from HMY Britannia at Helsinki and visits the Sibelius Academy to open a new transmitter network for Classic FM in Southern Finland before departing by air for London. The Duke and The Duchess of Gloucester attend the Anglo-Danish Society's Ball to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Society's Foundation at the Savoy, Strand, London WC2. The Duke of Kent visits the Birmingham International Motor Show, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, West Midlands; and as President, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, attends a gala concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London SW7. Princess Alexandra, accompanied by Sir Angus Ogilvy, visits India.

Changing of the Guard The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards, 11am; The Royal Logistics Corps mounts the Queen's Guard, at Buckingham Palace, 11.30am, band provided by the Coldstream Guards.