Court Circular
SANDRINGHAM, NORFOLK January 24th
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were represented by Admiral Sir Jock Slater (formerly Chief of the Naval Staff, First Sea Lord and Principal and Naval Aide-de-camp to The Queen) at the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Admiral Sir Desmond Cassidi (formerly Aide-de-camp to The Queen) which was held at St Bride’s Church, London EC4, this morning.
CLARENCE HOUSE January 24th
The Prince of Wales this morning visited the Mosque of Omar, Manger Square, Bethlehem.
His Royal Highness afterwards attended a Church Service to celebrate the role of Christians in the Middle East, at the Church of the Nativity, Manger Square, Bethlehem.
The Prince of Wales subsequently visited the Nativity Grotto and birthplace of Christ in Manger Square.
His Royal Highness today attended a Reception at Casa Nova Pilgrim Guest House, Bethlehem.
The Prince of Wales this afternoon called upon The President of the Palestinian Authority (Mr Mahmoud Abbas) at the Presidential Palace, Bethlehem.
His Royal Highness afterwards visited an olive grove at Al Karmel Convent, Bethlehem.
The Prince of Wales later visited the Church of Mary Magdalene, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem.
His Royal Highness this evening arrived at Royal Air Force Brize Norton from Israel.
Mr Clive Alderton, Mr Scott Furssedonn-wood and Mr Julian Payne were in attendance.
KENSINGTON PALACE January 24th
The Duchess of Cambridge, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, this morning held an Early Years Meeting.
ST JAMES’S PALACE January 24th
The Countess of Wessex this morning arrived at Heathrow Airport, London, from Sierra Leone.
Mr Alexander Stonor and Mrs Laura King were in attendance.
ST JAMES’S PALACE January 24th
The Princess Royal, Patron, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, this morning opened Drumfork Community Centre, Churchill Square, Helensburgh, and was received by Mrs Jill Young (Vice Lord-lieutenant of Dunbartonshire). For more details about the Royal Family visit the Royal website at www.royal.uk
Birthdays
Today: Sir Paul Girolami, Chairman, Glaxo Holdings, 1985-94, is 94; Sir David
Nicholas, Chairman, 1989-91, Editor and Chief Executive, 1977-91, Independent Television News, 90; Prof Sir Geoffrey
Lloyd, Master of Darwin College, Cambridge, 1989-2000, 87; Miss
Angela Thorne, actress, 81; the Rt Rev Dr Anthony Russell, Bishop of Ely, 2000-10, 77; Dame
Marjorie Scardino, Chief Executive, Pearson plc, 1997-2012, 73; Sir Paul Nurse, President, Royal Society, 2010-15; joint winner Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, 2001, 71; Mr Tom Paulin, poet and critic, 71; Sir
Tom Shebbeare, Chairman, Royal Parks Foundation, 2014-17; Director, The Prince’s Charities, 2004-11, 68; Dr John Landers,
Principal of Hertford College, Oxford, 2005-11, 68; Dr Sir Mark
Walport, Chief Executive, UK Research and Innovation; Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, 2013-17, 67; Dame
Hilary Boulding, President of Trinity College, Oxford, 63; Miss Emma Freud, broadcaster, 58;
Mr Alex Partridge, rower; Olympic silver medallist, men’s eight, Beijing 2008, and bronze medallist, London 2012, 39; and
Ms Sophie Hosking, former rower; Olympic gold medallist, London 2012, 34. Tomorrow: Mr A.N. Solomons, Chairman, Singer and Friedlander, 1976-99, will be 90;
Sir Timothy Clifford, Directorgeneral, National Galleries of Scotland, 2001-06, 74; Sir Christopher Hampton, playwright, 74; Prof Les Ebdon,
Director of the Office for Fair Access, 2012-18; Vice-chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Bedfordshire, 2003-12, 73; Mrs Geraldine
Peacock, Chairman, The Charity Commission, 2004-06, 72; Mr Anthony Noel, garden designer, 70; Mr Kim Hughes, former Australia cricket captain, 66; Mr Gary Crosby, jazz double bassist and composer, 65; Mr José Mourinho, football coach and manager, 57; Mr Andrew Ridgeley, musician, 57; Mr
Justice Knowles 51; and Major Heather Stanning, former rower; double Olympic gold medallist, Rio 2016 and London 2012, 35. Today is the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns in 1759, and of William Somerset Maugham, author and playwright, in 1874. Tomorrow will be the anniversary of the death of Maj Gen Charles Gordon in Khartoum in 1885. It is also the proclamation of the Republic of India in 1950.