Court Circular

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

26 July: The Queen held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace this morning.

The Right Hon John Patten MP had an audience of Her Majesty and took leave upon relinquishing his appointment as Secretary of State for Education.

Mr Christopher Crabbie was received in audience by The Queen and kissed hands upon his appointment as Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria.

Mrs Crabbie was also received by Her Majesty.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh gave an Afternoon Party in the Garden of Buckingham Palace for past and present Officers and Royal Yachtsmen to mark the Fortieth Anniversary of the Commissioning of HMY Britannia.

The Princess Royal was present.

The Band of the Royal Marines Portsmouth played selections of music during the afternoon.

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

The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron and Trustee, today attended a Reception to celebrate The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Shield Project at the London Hilton, Park Lane, London W1.

Major Charles Richards was in attendance.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were represented by Lieutenant- Colonel the Lord Charteris of Amisfield (Permanent Lord-in-Waiting) at the Memorial Service for Mr Arnold Smith (formerly Commonwealth Secretary-General) which was held in The Queen's Chapel, St James's Palace, this morning.

The Prince of Wales was represented by the Lord Carrington KG.

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

26 July: The Prince Edward, Chairman, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Special Projects Group, this evening held a meeting at Buckingham Palace.

26 July: The Princess Royal, Chancellor, University of London, this morning attended the Royal Veterinary College Graduation and Admissions Ceremony at the Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Campus, North Mymms, Hatfield, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Hertfordshire (Mr Simon Bowes-Lyon).

The Honourable Mrs Legge-Bourke was in attendance.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, the Royal Tournament, accompanied by Commander Timothy Laurence RN, this evening took the Salute at Earls Court, Warwick Road, London SW5.

CLARENCE HOUSE

26 July: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was present this morning at a Reception given at the Town Hall, King's Lynn, to mark the 40th Anniversary of Her Majesty being granted the Freedom of the Borough.

The Lady Angela Oswald and Major Sir Ralph Anstruther Bt were in attendance.

ST JAMES'S PALACE

26 July: The Prince of Wales, Founder and President, this afternoon chaired a council meeting at The Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture, Gloucester Gate, London NW1.

KENSINGTON PALACE

26 July: The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, Patron, the Zebra Trust, was present this evening at a Reception at 43 Cheval Place, London SW7.

The Honourable Mrs Whitehouse was in attendance.

26 July: The Duke of Gloucester accompanied by The Duchess of Gloucester, this afternoon took the Salute at a Performance of the Royal Tournament at Earls Court, London SW5.

Mrs Howard Page and Major Nicholas Barne were in attendance.

YORK HOUSE

26 July: The Duke of Kent this morning opened the Dean Walters Building, Liverpool John Moores University, St James's Road, Liverpool, Merseyside, and was met on arrival by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Merseyside (Mr Alan Waterworth) and visited JF Renshaw Limited, Crown Street, Liverpool.

His Royal Highness this afternoon visited the Queensway Tunnel, George's Dock Building, George's Dock Way, Pier Head, Liverpool, and later opened the Management and Safety Centre, North West Training Council, Dunnings Bridge Road, Bootle, Merseyside.

Mr Nicolas Adamson was in attendance.

THATCHED HOUSE LODGE

26 July: Princess Alexandra this afternoon laid the foundation stone for the new wing of the British Home and Hospital for Incurables at Crown Lane, Streatham, London SW16.

Mrs Peter Afia was in attendance.

Her Royal Highness was represented by the Honourable Sir Angus Ogilvy at the Memorial Service for Mr Jocelyn Hambro which was held today in the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London SW1.

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attend a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral, London EC4, to mark the tercentenary of the Bank of England and afterwards lunch with the Court; and attend a performance of the Royal Tournament at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London SW5. The Princess Royal attends a musical at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, Hampshire. Princess Alexandra, Patron, visits the offices of the Drug and Alcohol Foundation, London SW1; and as President, attends a reception held by Sight Savers (Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind) at the Carlton Club, London SW1.

Buckingham Palace

The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace opens between 10am and 5pm, last admission 4.30pm. The Royal Mews opens between 12pm and 4pm, last admission 3.30pm.

Changing of the Guard

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards, 11am; 1st Battalion the King's Regiment mounts the Queen's Guard, at Buckingham Palace, 11.30am, band provided by the Scots Guards.

Bands playing in the

Royal Parks

St James's Park, Household Division Musicians' Association, 12.30pm-2pm, 5.30pm-7pm; Regent's Park (Queen Mary's Rose Garden), Festival Brass, 6pm-7.30pm.