Court Circular

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

22 March: Lady Dugdale has succeeded the Lady Susan Hussey as Lady-in-Waiting to The Queen.

23 March: His Excellency Mr Richard Gunn and Mrs Gunn were received in farewell audience by The Queen and took leave upon His Excellency relinquishing his appointment as High Commissioner for Eastern Caribbean States in London.

His Excellency Mr Kjell Eliassen and Mrs Eliassen were received in farewell audience by Her Majesty and took leave upon His Excellency relinquishing his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Kingdom of Norway to the Court of St James's.

The Queen, Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Welch Fusiliers, received Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Lloyd upon relinquishing his appointment as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion and Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathon Riley upon assuming the appointment.

Major-General Morgan Llewellyn, Colonel of the Regiment, was present.

His Excellency Mr Ivan Stancioff and Mrs Stancioff were received in farewell audience by Her Majesty and took leave upon His Excellency relinquishing his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Bulgaria to the Court of St James's.

Admiral Sir John Kerr was received by The Queen upon relinquishing his appointment as Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command.

The Queen, Patron, and The Duke of Edinburgh this evening attended a Reception at St James's Palace given by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to mark the One Hundredth Anniversary of the granting of their Royal Charter and were received by the President (Mr Barry Johnson).

The Lady Farnham, Sir Kenneth Scott and Major James Patrick were in attendance.

The Duke of Edinburgh, President and Honorary Life Fellow, Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, this morning chaired a meeting of the Committee for the Environment at 8 John Adam Street, London WC2.

His Royal Highness, Patron, this afternoon opened the new London Regional Office of Opportunities for People with Disabilities at 74 Great Portland Street, London W1, and afterwards attended a Reception at the University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, London W1.

Major Charles Richards was in attendance.

By command of The Queen, the Viscount Long (Lord-in-Waiting) was present at Heathrow Airport, London, this morning upon the Departure of The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Mrs Nazarbaeva and bade farewell to His Excellency and Mrs Nazarbaeva on behalf of Her Majesty.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were represented by Vice-Admiral Sir Ronald Brockman (Extra Gentleman Usher) at the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Admiral Sir Frank Twiss (formerly Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod) which was held in St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London WC2, this afternoon.

23 March: The Duke of York this morning visited Penarth Lifeboat Station, the Promenade, Penarth, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for South Glamorgan (Captain Norman Lloyd-Edwards RNR).

His Royal Highness afterwards recommissioned the United Services Mess, Cardiff.

Captain Neil Blair RN was in attendance.

23 March: The Princess Royal, President, the Chartered Institute of Transport, was represented by Mr Richard Botwood at the Memorial Service for Sir Robert Reid which was held in St Pancras Church, Euston Road, London NW1, this

morning.

ST JAMES'S PALACE

23 March: The Prince of Wales this morning concluded a two-day Seminar to discuss agriculture and the environment.

KENSINGTON PALACE

23 March: The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, was present today at the Barbican Hall at the Annual Council Meeting of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Mrs Jane Stevens was in attendance.

YORK HOUSE

23 March: The Duke of Kent this morning visited the Cardiff Medicentre, the University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales and was met on arrival by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for South Glamorgan (Captain Norman Lloyd-Edwards).

His Royal Highness, President, the Engineering Council, this afternoon attended the launch of the Engineering Centre for Wales, the Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff and later opened Europressings Limited, the Wentloog Corporation Park Development, Wentloog, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales.

Mr Nicolas Adamson was in attendance.

The Duchess of Kent, President, Action Research, this morning visited Vincent House, North Parade, Horsham, West Sussex, and was met on arrival by Major-General Sir Philip Ward (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex).

Her Royal Highness later visited St Catherine's Hospice Shop, East Street, Horsham and as Patron visited St Catherine's Hospice, Malthouse Road, Crawley, West Sussex.

The Duchess of Kent this afternoon visited the Sussex Beacon Hospice, Bevendean Road, Brighton, East Sussex.

Mrs Colin Marsh and Fiona, Lady Astor of Hever were in attendance.

Luncheon

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh held a Lunch Party yesterday at Buckingham Palace. The guests were:

Miss Helena Bonham Carter (Actress); Miss Patricia Scotland QC (Barrister); The Hon Peter Benson (Partner, Coopers and Lybrand); Dr Gordon Beveridge (President and Vice-Chancellor, Queen's University, Belfast); Mr John Hanson (Director-General, British Council); Mr Ian McGeechan (Former Rugby Coach to Scotland and the Lions); Mr Bruce Pattullo (Governor and Group Chief Executive, Bank of Scotland); Sir Patrick Sheehy (Chairman, BAT Industries Plc).

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, opens the new Jewel House at the Tower of London, London EC3. The Duke of Edinburgh, Honorary Member, attends the Spring Luncheon of the Worshipful Company of Marketors, Trinity House, London EC3; and visits the North Westminster Community School, London W2. The Duke of Gloucester opens Woodlands Place, the Headquarters of Boulton and Paul, Sprowston, Norfolk. The Duchess of Kent attends 'The City Presents British Fashion' Reception and Fashion Show at the Mansion House, London EC4. Prince Michael of Kent attends a dinner given by the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Royal Artillery Barracks, London SE18.

The Queen's Gallery

The Queen's Gallery opens between 10am and 5pm, and last admission is at 4.30pm.

Changing of the Guard

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards, 11am.