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17 December: His Excellency Teuku Mohammad Hadi Thayeb and Siti Hadi Thayeb were received in farewell audience by The Queen and took leave upon His Excellency relinquishing his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Indonesia to the Court of St James's.
His Excellency Monsieur Edouard Molitor and Madame Molitor were received in farewell audience by Her Majesty and took leave upon His Excellency relinquishing his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the Court of St James's.
His Excellency Mr Surya Prasad Shrestha 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 Nepal to the Court of St James's.
His Excellency was accompanied by the following members of the Embassy: Mr Madhab Prasad Khanal (Counsellor), Colonel Lili Jung Gurung (Military Attache), Mr Keshab Thaku (Attache) and Mr Gopi Lamichhane (Attache).
Mrs Shrestha 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 Stanley Martin was received by The Queen upon relinquishing his appointment as Assistant Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps when Her Majesty invested him with the Insignia of a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
The Queen held a Council at 12.30pm.
There were present: the Right Hon Anthony Newton MP (Lord President), the Lord Wakeham (Lord Privy Seal), the Right Hon Sir Patrick Mayhew MP (Secretary of State for Northern Ireland), the Right Hon Michael Heseltine MP (Secretary of State for Trade and Industry), the Right Hon Archibald Hamilton MP (Minister of State, Ministry of Defence) and the Right Hon Alastair Goodlad MP (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office).
Mr Nigel Nicholls was in attendance as Clerk of the Council.
The Right Hon Antony Newton MP had an audience of The Queen before the Council.
17 December: The Duke of York, Colonel-in-Chief, the Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's), this morning attended a Gulf Medal Presentation Parade at Chester Castle and was received by Her Majesty's Lord- Lieutenant for Cheshire (Mr William Bromley-Davenport).
His Royal Highness this afternoon opened the new extension to Macclesfield Town Hall.
Captain Rupert Maitland- Titterton was in attendance.
17 Decmeber: The Prince Edward, Chairman, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Special Projects Group, this afternoon attended the Christmas Lunch of the Pacific Asia Travel Association United Kingdom Chapter at the London Marriott Hotel, 10 Grosvenor Square, London W1.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sean O'Dwyer was in attendance.
17 December: The Princess Royal, Patron, British Institute of Sports Coaches Limited, today presented the United Kingdom Coach of the Year Awards at the Cafe Royal, 68 Regent Street, London W1.
Her Royal Highness, President, British Knitting and Clothing Export Council, afterwards visited Gabicci plc, Gabicci House, Humber Road, London NW2, and Link-Up Limited, the Edge Business Centre, Humber Road.
The Hon Mrs Legge-Bourke was in attendance.
KENSINGTON PALACE
17 December: The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, this morning received the Secretary of the Duchy of Cornwall (Mr David Landale).
His Royal Highness afterwards attended the Age Resource Awards Ceremony and Reception to mark the launch of the United Kingdom celebrations of the European Year of Older People and Solidarity Between Generations 1993 in the Whittle Room, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London SW1.
Miss Belinda Harley was in attendance.
YORK HOUSE
17 December: The Duchess of Kent this evening attended the Annual Christmas Celebration at Westminster Cathedral, London SW1.
Mrs Colin Marsh was in attendance.
ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS
The Prince of Wales, Patron, Sue Ryder Home, opens the new day centre at the Sue Ryder Home, Leckhampton Court, Leckhampton, Gloucestershire. The Princess Royal, Patron, College of Occupational Therapists, opens the Occupational Therapy Department at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow; visits Daks-Simpson Limited, Larkhall, Lanarkshire; as Patron, Citizens Advice Scotland, visits the Glasgow Central Bureau, Hellenic House, Glasgow; and opens Messrs Matthew Algie's new factory and office, Glasgow. Princess Michael of Kent visits The Barley Wood Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, Wrington, Avon.
Changing of the Guard
The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards, 11am.
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