Court Circular
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
May 9th
The King, Colonel-in-chief, Corps of Royal Engineers, this morning visited 3 Royal School of Military Engineering at Gibraltar Barracks, Minley, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-lieutenant of Hampshire (Mr Nigel Atkinson) and the Commanding Officer (Lieutenant Colonel Robert Grant).
His Majesty was received with a Royal Salute from the Quarter Guard.
The King visited Engineering Personnel and their families in the Officers’ Mess and subsequently met Officers from 8 Engineer Brigade Headquarters.
The Queen, Patron, Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, this morning visited the Royal London Hospital, Stepney Way, London E1, to mark International Nurses Day and was received by Mr Leslie Morgan (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).
Her Majesty, President, this afternoon held a Reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the Ninetieth Anniversary of the Brooke Hospital for Animals.
KENSINGTON PALACE
May 9th
The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall this afternoon visited the site of a new homeless housing project in Yeoman Way, Newquay, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-lieutenant of Cornwall (Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho).
His Royal Highness afterwards met lifeguards and those working with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution at Fistral Beach, Headland Road, Newquay, and was received by Mrs Jane Hartley (Deputy Lieutenant of Cornwall). The Blythe Sappers
Lt Col Robert Murfin presided at the spring luncheon of The Blythe Sappers, held yesterday at the Army and Navy Club.
Sir John Timpson, chairman, Timpson Group, was the principal guest. Brig Gavin Hatcher and Cols Graham Dawson, Richard Cobbold and Brian Johnson were among others present. HMS Drake
Cdre Andrew Ingham, Commander Fleet Operational Standards and Training, was the Guest of Honour at the Annual Armada Night Dinner in the Wardroom HMS Drake yesterday evening. Capt David Preece, the Deputy Naval Base Commander and Captain of the Base, was dined out as the senior leaver. Cdr Martin Malone presided, while Chaplain Charles Miller and Lt Cdr David Scott also spoke. Bal Dhaliwal-thomas has been appointed a Circuit Judge to the South Eastern Circuit, based at Luton Crown Court, with effect from May 1 2024. She will be known as Her Honour Judge Dhaliwal-thomas.
Judge Gledhill, KC, has retired as a Circuit Judge with effect from May 4 2024.
The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointment of Prof Penney Lewis as a Commissioner of the Law Commission of England and Wales. The Stepbridge online sessions started by the Welsh Bridge Union continue on Mondays, Wednesdays, Sundays and Fridays, writes Julian Pottage, Bridge Correspondent. During April the highest score on each of these days of the week was as follows:
Monday – 70.11% achieved by Nicola Adamson and Malcolm Lewis on the 15th.
Wednesday – 64.58% achieved by Ashwin Shah and Prafula Shah on the 24th.
Friday – 65.92% achieved by Teresa Fifield and Lionel Fifield on the 19th.
Sunday – 70.29% achieved by Peter Millar and Michael Green on the 21st.
ST JAMES’S PALACE
May 9th
The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron, Friends of Wells Cathedral Grand Organ Appeal, this afternoon attended a Luncheon at the Goring, 15 Beeston Place, London SW1.
His Royal Highness, Patron, GB Snowsport Limited, this evening attended a Celebration Reception at Brown Rudnick LLP, 8 Clifford Street, London W1.
The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron, the London Mozart Players Trust, afterwards held a Gala Concert and Dinner at St James’s Palace.
The Duchess of Edinburgh, Patron, Chartered Management Institute, this morning attended the Women’s Annual Conference at 133 Houndsditch, London EC3.
Her Royal Highness today visited Scene and Heard, 128A Chalton Street, London NW1, to mark its Twenty Fifth Anniversary and was received by Ms Roxane Zane (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).
The Duchess of Edinburgh, Global Ambassador, International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, this afternoon received Mr Peter Holland (Chief Executive Officer).
Her Royal Highness this evening presented the Farmers Club Pinnacle Awards at 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1.
ST JAMES’S PALACE
May 9th
The Princess Royal, Patron, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, this morning visited the Headquarters at Building 35/37, HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth, and was received by Colonel Charles Ackroyd (Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire).
Her Royal Highness, Patron, Women’s Royal Naval Service Benevolent Trust, this afternoon attended the Annual Presentation and Reception at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, and was received by Mr Hugo Cubitt (Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire).
The Princess Royal, Patron, the Association of Wrens, afterwards opened the new Headquarters
Building at Lanyard House, Scott Road, HM Naval Base.
Her Royal Highness, Patron, National Museum of the Royal Navy, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, subsequently visited the HMS Victory Conservation Project at HM Naval Base and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-lieutenant of Hampshire (Mr Nigel Atkinson).
The Princess Royal, Patron, National Museum of the Royal Navy, accompanied by Admiral Laurence, this evening attended the HMS Victory Conservation Project Dinner onboard HMS Victory at HM Naval Base.
Today’s birthdays
Mrs Barbara Taylor Bradford, author, is 91; Sir Bill Cash, MP, 84;
Lady Worsthorne (Lucinda Lambton), photographer, writer and broadcaster, 81; Dame Maureen Lipman, actress, 78; Sir Christopher Gent, Chairman, Convatec, 2016-19; Chairman, Glaxosmithkline, 2002-15, 76; Prof Barnaby Lenon, Chairman, Independent Schools Council; Head Master, Harrow School, 1999-2011, 70; Prof Edward Peck, Vicechancellor and President of Nottingham Trent University, 65;
Bono, singer and songwriter, 64;
Mr Blyth Tait, former three day event rider; Olympic gold medallist, Atlanta 1996, 62; Ms Debbie Wiseman, conductor, film and television composer, 61; Mr Jonathan Edwards, former triple jumper; former Olympic, Commonwealth, European and World Champion, now broadcaster, 58; Ms Deborah Criddle, para-equestrian; gold medallist and two-times silver medallist, London 2012, 58; Mr Jon Schofield, former canoeist; Olympic bronze medallist, kayak double (K2) 200m, London 2012, 39; and Mr Tom Mcewen, three day eventer; Olympic gold medallist team eventing and silver medallist individual eventing, Tokyo 2020, 33.
Today is the anniversary of Winston Churchill becoming Prime Minister in 1940.