Court Circular

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

23 March: His Excellency Mr John Philip Mascarenhas was received in audience by The Queen and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Commission as High Commissioner for the Republic of Seychelles in London.

Mrs Mascarenhas was also received by Her Majesty.

The Deputy Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir John Coles) was present and the Household-in- Waiting were in attendance.

His Excellency Mr Ghazi Al-Rayes and Mrs Al-Rayes were received in farewell audience by The Queen and took leave upon His Excellency relinquishing his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Kuwait to the Court of St James's and upon retiring as Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps.

Her Majesty invested His Excellency with the Insignia of an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

Mr John Flynn was received in audience by The Queen and kissed hands upon his appointment as Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Caracas.

Mrs Flynn was received by The Queen.

Mrs Robert de Pass has succeeded the Lady Elton as Lady-in-Waiting to The Queen.

23 March: the Princess Royal this afternoon attended the Windsor Horse Trials Press Conference in the Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace.

Her Royal Highness, Honorary Colonel, University of London Contingent Officer Training Corps, received Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Wallington upon relinquishing his appointment as Commanding Officer and Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Richardson upon assuming the appointment.

The Princess Royal later attended the Annual General Meeting of the International Health Exchange, Royal College of Nursing, Cavendish Square, London W1.

CLARENCE HOUSE

23 March: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was present this evening at a Reception given by the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund at St James's Palace.

Dame Frances Campbell-Preston and Sir Martin Gilliat were in attendance.

Dame Frances Campbell-Preston has succeeded the Lady Angela Oswald as Lady-in-Waiting to Her Majesty.

ST JAMES'S PALACE

23 March: The Prince of Wales this morning attended a Seminar to mark the first five years of Acre (Action with Communities in Rural England) at St James's Palace.

His Royal Highness this afternoon attended a Lecture at The Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture, Gloucester Gate, London NW1.

The Prince of Wales this evening attended the Royal Shakespeare Company Annual Chairman's Dinner, Skinners' Hall, 8 Dowgate Hill, London EC4.

Miss Belinda Harley was in attendance.

KENSINGTON PALACE

23 March: Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, Colonel-in-Chief, Royal Corps of Transport, today received Major-General John MacDonald on relinquishing the appointment of Director General of Transport and Movements.

The Duke of Gloucester, President, National Association of Boys' Clubs this morning visited Boys' Clubs in Derbyshire and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Derbyshire (Colonel Peter Hilton).

In the afternoon His Royal Highness visited Boys' Clubs in Staffordshire.

Major Nicholas Barne was in attendance.

YORK HOUSE

23 March: The Duke of Kent this afternoon launched the Aidis Trust's Mobile Assessment Unit at Vintners' Hall, Upper Thames Street, London EC4.

Captain the Honourable Tom Coke was in attendance.

His Royal Highness this evening attended a Concert and Dinner given by the Hanover Band in aid of the Hanover Band Trust at Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey.

Commander Roger Walker RN was in attendance.

The Duchess of Kent today visited Longridge Towers School, Berwick- upon-Tweed, and was met on arrival by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Northumberland (the Viscount Ridley KG) and later visited Tweeddale Press, Marygate, Berwick-upon- Tweed, Northumberland.

Her Royal Highness this afternoon performed the Naming Ceremony of the Berwick-upon-Tweed Lifeboat RNLB Joy and Charles Beeby at Berwick-upon-Tweed Lifeboat Station, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland.

Mrs David Napier was in attendance.

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Queen, Patron of the Youth Hostels Association, opens Rotherhithe Youth Hostel, London SE16. The Duke of Edinburgh addresses the Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, Florida; and later, as Patron and Trustee, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, attends an evening reception in Palm Springs. The Queen Mother attends the Annual General Meeting of Queen Mary's Clothing Guild at St James's Palace. The Prince of Wales visits the the St Bees Management Centre and meets teachers and students involved in the newly set up management training programmes at St Bees School, St Bees, Cumbria; as President, the Prince's Youth Business Trust, attends a Trade Fair at St Bees School; visits the Vivat Trust's Church Brow Cottage at Kirby Lonsdale, Lancashire, and views the recent restoration work; and later visits Barrow-in- Furness, meeting groups involved in the economic development of Cumbria. Prince Edward, Trustee, the International Foundation of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, attends a Gala Dinner in Palm Beach, Florida. The Princess Royal, Patron, The Association of Combined Youth Clubs, attends a Special Appeals Luncheon at the Cavalry and Guards Club, London W1; and later, as Patron, British Executive Service Overseas, holds a reception at Buckingham Palace for Council and Representatives of the Corporate Membership Scheme.

Changing of the Guard

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