Court Circular

KENSINGTON PALACE

12 December: The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, President, the Scottish Children's League, was present this evening at the 'Fantasy Ball' held in aid of the League's Centenary Appeal, at the Tramway Theatre, Glasgow.

Her Royal Highness was received by Councillor Robert Gray (Vice Lord- Lieutenant of the City of Glasgow).

The Lady Glenconner was in attendance.

YORK HOUSE

11 December: The Duchess of Kent, Patron, Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund, this evening attended a reception for the Macmillan Nurse Appeal at Hillsborough Castle, County Down, and was met on arrival by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Sir Patrick Mayhew) and Her Majesty's Lord- Lieutenant for County Down (Colonel William Brownlow).

Her Royal Highness later attended the 250th Anniversary performance of Handel's Messiah at St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, and was met on arrival by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for the City of Belfast (Colonel Elliott Wilson).

Mrs Julian Tomkins and Mr Nicolas Adamson were in attendance.

12 December: The Duchess of Kent this morning attended a service at Hillsborough Parish Church, County Down, Northern Ireland.

Mrs Julian Tomkins and Mr Nicolas Adamson were in attendance.

ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Prince of Wales, President, the Prince's Youth Business Trust, visits Willow Hall, Unit 6, Cinderhill Industrial Estate, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, and Woodpecker Pine, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme; and as President, Business in the Community, visits the Railway Enterprise Centre, Stoke- on-Trent, Staffordshire. The Duchess of Gloucester attends the Annual Banquet of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London at Guildhall, London EC2. Princess Michael of Kent, Patron of Sparks, attends the Sparks Annual Ball at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London W1.

Changing of the Guard

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards, 11am; 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards mounts the Queen's Guard, at Buckingham Palace, 11.30am, band provided by the Irish Guards.

Windsor Castle

The Precincts at Windsor Castle open between 10am and 4pm, and the State Apartments between 10.30am and 3pm.