The Royal Week 2-8 July 2022

Published

Read more about the highlights of this week’s Royal activities, events and engagements.

Saturday 2 July

The Duke of Cambridge received the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon. Jacinda Ardern for an Audience at Kensington Palace.

The Duke of Cambridge meets Jacinda Ardern

The Duke of Gloucester opened the New Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge.

Monday 4 July

The Princess Royal, Patron of British Universities and Colleges Sport Limited, attended the Annual Conference at the University of Warwick.

Her Royal Highness, as Royal Patron of the Leuchie Forever Fund, later officially opened new facilities and attended a tenth anniversary reception at Leuchie House in North Berwick.

Tuesday 5 July

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall started their annual visit to Wales with a tour of BBC Wales’s new Headquarters.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at BBC Wales

During the tour, The Prince visited the main studio, which is home to many of BBC Wales’s programmes including Scrum V and Match of the Day Wales.

Meanwhile, The Duchess joined a discussion about women working in media, and also representatives from BBC’s ‘Tiny Happy People’ initiative, followed by staff and students from the Welsh hub of the National Film and Television School.

Their Royal Highnesses then had the chance to visit the statue of Betty Campbell in Cardiff's Central Square.

Mrs Campbell was the first black woman to become a headteacher in Wales. She worked as headteacher at Mount Stuart Primary in Butetown, Cardiff, and put black culture on the curriculum at her school, championing the nation’s multicultural heritage. The Prince of Wales had previously met Betty, who died in 2017, during a visit to her school in 1994.

As part of her commitment to highlight the work of domestic abuse charities and the work they do to support victims and survivors, The Duchess then visited RISE Cardiff.

At Cardiff City Hall, The Prince of Wales, in his role as Colonel-in-Chief of the The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, visited the Regiment to present Platinum Jubilee, Operational Medals, and two Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.

Their Royal Highnesses then visited shops and businesses on Treorchy High Street before joining members of the community in the garden of The Lion pub.

The Prince of Wales in Treorchy

The Duke of Cambridge and The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and Patron, the Lawn Tennis Association, attended the Wimbledon Tennis Courts.

The Princess Royal, Commandant-in-Chief (Youth) of St. John Ambulance, attended the Centenary of Cadets Celebrations at Ballymena Showground.

Her Royal Highness also visited the Irish Equine Rehabilitation and Fitness Centre and joined a Garden Party at Hillsborough Castle.

In her role as Honorary President of the Lawn Tennis Association, The Duchess of Gloucester also attended Wimbledon.

The Duke of Kent, who is President of the RNLI, visited their historic lifeboat collection at the History Dockyard, Chatham.

His Royal Highness was shown some of the charity’s most significant lifeboats, which between them have more than 300 lives at sea.

Wednesday 6 July

On Day Two of Wales Week, The Duchess of Cornwall, in her role as Patron of the National Literacy Trust, opened Millbrook Primary School’s new library.

During the visit, The Duchess’ Birthday Books Project was announced. This new initiative will provide 25,000 children from 75 primary schools in disadvantaged areas across the UK with a wellbeing or happiness-themed ‘Kinderbox’ or mini library.

Her Royal Highness then visited Jamie’s Farm in Monmouth. The Duchess has been Patron of Jamie’s Farm since 2014, and their Monmouth Site has enabled the charity to extend their programme to an additional 450 young people each year.

Meanwhile, The Prince of Wales had the chance to see oak saplings that have been planted to mark the Platinum Jubilee at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales.

The Duke of Cambridge took part in a polo match at the Guards Polo Club in support of charities connected to The Duke and Duchess.

The Princess Royal, Patron of Farms for City Children, visited Wick Court Farm in Gloucestershire.

Founded by children’s author, Michael Morpurgo, Farms for City children is a charity that enables children from disadvantaged communities to experience the adventure of working together on farms.

Her Royal Highness, as an Honorary Member of the Society of Merchant Venturers, also opened the Merchants' Academy Primary School and Venturers' Academy School and Bradbury Centre.

Thursday 7 July

The Queen held two Audiences from Windsor Castle.

The final day of Wales Week started at St Govan’s Head, where The Prince fo Wales celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, alongside the 10th anniversary of the Wales Coast Path and the 200th anniversary of HM Coastguard.

Covering 243 square miles, it is one of the smallest yet most varied of the UK’s National Parks. Designated in 1952, primarily for its spectacular coastline, the Park encompasses a range of stunning landscapes, including hills, estuaries, valleys and woodlands.

His Royal Highness then visited the market town of Narberth, where he met local business owners and producers.

Narberth is famed for its lively mix of proudly independent shops – including boutiques, galleries, grocers, gift shops and antique stores, as well as delis, eateries and local producers. 

The Prince of Wales, Patron of the University of Wales then celebrated the University’s 200th anniversary at the Trinity Saint David Campus.

The bicentenary commemorates the establishment of St David’s College, Lampeter on 12th August 1822 when Bishop Thomas Burgess, Bishop of St David’s laid the foundation stone. It is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales.

The day finished across the border in Hereford, where His Royal Highness officially opened in Hay Castle, which is opening its doors to the public for the first time in its 900-year history, following a major restoration project. 

The Duke of Cambridge hosted an Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace, with Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam amongst the recipients.

The Duke of Cambridge awards Jonathan Van-Tam with his Knighthood

The Princess Royal, as Honorary Fellow of the Nautical Institute, attended their fiftieth anniversary.

The Duke of Gloucester at Patron of the Cultura Trust, visited Hylton Castle in Newcastle. 

His Royal Highness then visited Rotary Power and Michell Bearings to mark the 100th anniversary of British Engines.

The Duke of Kent, Colonel of the Scots Guards, attended the Household Division’s Military Musical Spectacular on Horse Guards Parade.

Princess Alexandra, Vice Patron, attended the final concert of the Royal Over-Seas League Annual Music Competition at Wigmore Hall.

A new exhibition also opened at Windsor Castle in celebration of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The special display commemorates Her Majesty's Coronation at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953, and includes the Coronation Dress and Robes of Estate worn by The Queen.

Friday 8 July

The Queen sent a message of condolence following the death of former Prime Minister Abe of Japan:

I wish to convey my deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and to the people of Japan at this difficult time.

The Prince of Wales was in Morecambe and Lancashire to meet community organisations and local businesses and celebrate the Winter Gardens’ 125th anniversary.

His Royal Highness then visited Morecambe Fire Station to mark 21 years of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) and The Prince’s Trust jointly delivering their Team Programme. 

As Colonel in Chief of the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment, The Prince of Wales awarded Platinum Jubilee medals.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary, with a new picture released to mark the milestone.

The Duke of Gloucester presented The Queen’s Award for Enterprise to two businesses in Tyne & Wear.

The Duke of Gloucester awarding The Queen's Award for Enterprise

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are for outstanding achievement by UK businesses.

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