Court Circular

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Kent this evening attended the Finale of the London Symphony Orchestra Donatella Flick Conducting Competition at LSO St. Luke's, 161 Old Street, London EC1.

Kensington Palace

The Prince of Wales, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this morning received Mr. Simon Patterson (Chairman) at Windsor Castle.

His Royal Highness, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, afterwards held a Meeting at Windsor Castle.

Windsor Castle

The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Ms. Elke Büdenbender arrived at Windsor Castle today on a State Visit to The King and Queen.

The Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed His Excellency and Ms. Büdenbender on behalf of His Majesty at Heathrow Airport, London, and travelled by car to the Royal Dais in Datchet Road, Windsor, where The President and Ms. Büdenbender were met by The King and Queen.

The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Ms. Elke Büdenbender, accompanied by Their Majesties with Their Royal Highnesses, drove in a Carriage Procession to Windsor Castle with a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry.

Gun Salutes were fired in the Home Park (Private) by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company.

A Guard of Honour was provided at Windsor Castle by 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who later marched past.

The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery marched past and the Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry ranked past.

His Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, The King's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard and the Military Knights of Windsor were on duty.

The President of the Federal Republic of Germany this afternoon visited No. 10 Downing Street, where His Excellency had talks with the Prime Minister and subsequently was entertained to Tea by the Prime Minister on behalf of His Majesty's Government.

Ms. Elke Büdenbender this afternoon visited Judith Kerr Primary School, 62-68 Half Moon Lane, London SE24.

The King and Queen gave a State Banquet this evening in honour of The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Ms. Elke Büdenbender at which The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were present.

The following had the honour of being invited:

Suite of The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Ms. Elke Büdenbender:

Dr. Johann Wadephul (Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs), Dr. Dörte Dinger (State Secretary, Head of the Office of The President), Mr. David McAllister MEP (Vice President, European People's Party), Mr. Sebastian Roloff (Chairman, German-British Parliamentary Friendship Group), Her Excellency Ms. Susanne Baumann (Ambassador from the Federal Republic of Germany to the Court of St. James's) and Mr. Peter Schier, Ambassador Wolfgang Dold (Ambassador, Director-General for Foreign Affairs), Dr. Oliver Schmolke (Director-General for Home Affairs), Ms. Cerstin Gammelin (Spokesperson of The President), Ms. Daniela Lerner (Head of The President's Personal Office), and Ms. Ulla Brunkhorst (Head of Europe Division).

Specially attached to The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Ms. Elke Büdenbender:

The Viscount Hood (Lord-in-Waiting), and Mr. Andrew Mitchell (His Majesty's Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany) and Mrs. Mitchell.

Diplomatic Corps:

His Excellency the Ambassador of Honduras and Mrs. Mirian Nasser de Romero.

The Cabinet and Government:

The Prime Minister and Lady Starmer, the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and Ms. Nicola Green, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (the Rt. Hon. Yvette Cooper MP), the Leader of the House of Lords and Mr. Nigel Smith, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade (the Rt. Hon. Peter Kyle MP), the Secretary of State for Defence (the Rt. Hon. Sir John Healey MP), the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (the Rt. Hon. Lisa Nandy MP), and Sir Christopher Wormald (Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service) and Lady Wormald.

Special Invitations:

The Speaker of the House of Commons and Lady Hoyle, the Leader of the Opposition and Mr. Hamish Badenoch, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Lady Davey, the Deputy First Minister of Wales and Mrs. Irranca-Davies, the Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Lady Robbins, the Earl and Countess of Kinnoull, the Lord and Lady True, the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill and Mr. Alexander Birch, the Rt. Hon. the Lady Mayor and Mr. Gary Langley, the Duke of Norfolk, Ms. Kate Forbes MSP and Mr. Alasdair Maclennan, Dame Deborah Bronnert, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Ms. Blaise Metreweli, Mr. René Obermann, Mr. Hans Zimmer and Ms. Dina De Luca, Miss Georgia Stanway and Mrs. Suzanne Rowell, Ms. Tricia Tuttle and Ms. Briony Hanson, Dr. Gus Casely-Hayford and Ms. Sarah Wason, Mr. Asoka Wöhrmann and Mrs. Andrea Bitter, Professor Dr. Ugur Sahin, Dr. Özlem Türeci, Mrs. Jane Toogood and Dr. Matthew Toogood, Ms. Motshegetsi Mabuse and Mr. Evgenij Voznyuk, Professor Mary and Professor Julian Fulbrook, Ms. Katja Hoyer, Mr. Axel Scheffler and Ms. Clementine Koenig, Lady Vaughn and Sir Matthew Vaughn, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Tiernan, Ms. Cressida Hogg, Ms. Nicola Grady-Smith and Mr. Andrew Grady-Smith, Mr. Neil MacGregor, Mr. Scott Lipinski and Mr. Axel Lipinski-Meissner, Ms. Margherita Della Valle and Mr. Alessandro Brusa, Ms. Allison Kirkby and Mr. Peter Kirkby, Mr. Thomas Hitzlsperger and Mr. Brian Winrow-Campbell Clivaz, Ms. Anne-Sophie Mutter and Mr. Øyvind Gimse, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Gort-Barten, the Dowager Countess of Gowrie, the Duke and Duchess of Wellington, Professor Sir Christopher Clark, Sir David and Lady Chipperfield, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Woolmer, and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Allsopp.

Federal Republic of Germany Delegation Guests:

Ms. Jutta Casdorff (Private Secretary to Ms. Elke Büdenbender), Colonel Marcus Hagen (Federal Ministry of Defence Liaison Officer to The President), Mr. Peter Schier (Spouse of the Ambassador from the Federal Republic of Germany to the Court of St. James's), Ambassador Karin Marschall (Chief of Protocol), Dr. Ran Huo (Desk Officer, Europe Division, Office of The President), Ms. Claudia Richel (Speeches Section, Office of The President), Ms. Norman Kirsten (Social Media Editor), Mr. Durs Grünbein (Poet), Dr. Markus Krebber (Chief Executive Officer, RWE AG), Mr. Matthias Rebellius (Member of the Managing Board, Siemens AG), Mr. Matthias Rebellius (Member of the Managing Board, Siemens AG), Dr. Gundbert Scherf (Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Helsing GmbH), Dr. Michael Schöllhorn (Chief Executive Officer, Airbus Defence and Space), Mr. Christian Sewing (Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Bank AG), Professor Dr. h.c. Oliver Zipse (Chairman, BMW Group), Mr. Christian Doktor (Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy, United Kingdom), Ms. Irina Speck (Head of the Economic Section, German Embassy, United Kingdom), Mr. Stefan Schiller (Protocol Officer, Federal Foreign Office), and Mr. Henning Speck (Head of the Minister's Office, Federal Foreign Office).

St. James's Palace

The Princess Royal, Patron, Learning and Work Institute, this afternoon attended an Adult Essential Skills Forum at the Foundry, 17 Oval Way, London SE11, and was received by Mr. Christopher Wellbelove (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

Her Royal Highness, Patron, Royal National Children's SpringBoard Foundation, later attended a Reception at Church House, Dean's Yard, Westminster, London SW1, and was received by Mr. Steven Summers (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

Buckingham Palace

The Rt. Hon. Sir Keir Starmer MP (Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury) had an audience of The King this afternoon.

By command of the King, Mr. Alistair Harrison (Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps) called upon His Excellency the Hon. Stephen Smith at Australia House, Strand, London WC2, this morning in order to bid farewell to His Excellency upon relinquishing his appointment as High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia in London.

St. James's Palace

The Duke of Edinburgh, Past Master, the Worshipful Company of Fuellers, today attended The Duke of Edinburgh Future Energy Conference at Mansion House, Walbrook, London EC4.

His Royal Highness, Chairman, The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, this afternoon held a Meeting.

St. James's Palace

The Princess Royal, Royal Bencher, the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, this afternoon attended the Book Prize Award Ceremony at the Inner Temple, London EC4.

Her Royal Highness, President, the City and Guilds of London Institute, later presented The Princess Royal Training Awards at Fishmongers' Hall, Upper Thames Street, London EC4, and was received by Major General Simon Lalor (a Lieutenant of the City of London).

The Princess Royal, President, the Mission to Seafarers, this evening attended a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at All Hallows by the Tower, Byward Street, London EC3, followed by a Reception at Trinity House, London EC3.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester, President, this afternoon visited British Expertise International, 1 Birdcage Walk, London SW1.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester this evening attended the Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust Advent Service in the Guards' Chapel, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London SW1, to mark the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Trust.

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Kent this evening attended a Reception and Performance of Military Music to commemorate His Royal Highness's Ninetieth Birthday held at the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Regimental Headquarters, HM Tower of London, and involving all Service organisations affiliated to His Royal Highness.

Buckingham Palace

The King this afternoon received Heads of Multilateral Development Banks and Private Sector Chief Executive Officers at St. James's Palace who have been convened by the Sustainable Markets Initiative.