HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN WILL ATTEND THE CEREMONY OF THE KEYS AT THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE, EDINBURGH

MONDAY, 2ND JULY, 2018

Her Majesty The Queen will attend the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Monday, 2nd July, 2018. The Guard of Honour will be Balaklava Company, The Argyll and Sunderland Highlanders, 5^th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS). Pipes and Drums will be provided by The Highlanders, 4^th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS) and music by The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

‘World First’ Gold Quarter Sovereign to Commemorate the Queen’s Sapphire Coronation Jubilee is Released

Featuring a portrait of the Queen on horseback, one of these limited edition coins was donated to equestrian charity, The Horse Rangers Association, at a ceremony in Hampton Court on May 30th.

London, Thursday 31st June: Collectables firm The Bradford Exchange has released a brand new Gold Quarter Sovereign to commemorate the Queen’s Sapphire Coronation Jubilee, marking Her Majesty’s incredible milestone when she becomes the first British monarch to reach the 65th anniversary of their coronation on Saturday 2nd June. The 2018 Gold Quarter Sovereign features a portrait of the Queen on horseback, recalling a similar image which was used on the first commemorative coin of her reign, the 1953 Coronation Crown, and then on subsequent coins celebrating her Majesty’s Jubilees over the decades. However, this is the first time the equestrian portrait has been used on a Gold Quarter Sovereign, making it a ‘world first’ to mark this historic occasion.

Only 2,018 Gold Quarter Sovereigns are being issued, making this a limited edition coin that is expected to sell out quickly. The coins are 14mm in diameter, made of solid 22-carat gold, produced to brilliant uncirculated quality and are available for purchase for £98 exclusively at www.bradford.co.uk/goldcoin or by calling 0333 003 0019.

In a fitting event for the official release of this unique coin, The Bradford Exchange today presented one of them to The Horse Rangers Association at a ceremony at the charity’s stables at The Royal Mews, Hampton Court Road. In addition, they donated the other two coins that make up the full Sapphire Coronation Jubilee set, the Enthroned Queen Half Sovereign and Double Effigy Full Sovereign, taking the full donation to a value of over £1,500.

The Horse Rangers Association was chosen to receive this donation as it is dedicated to supporting children and young people from all backgrounds and abilities by giving them the opportunity to develop confidence and life skills through learning to ride and care for horses. This is a cause close to royal hearts, with the Queen still enjoying riding at the age of ninety-two and with its patron being Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent.

At this morning’s event, Bradford Exchange Managing Director, Stephen Lee, presented the coins to Stable Manager of The Horse Rangers Association, Theresa Barrett, in front of VIP guests and a number of the charity’s young members who benefit from its work.

Stephen Lee said: “With the 2018 Gold Quarter Sovereign being a ‘world first’ with its portrait of the Queen in the saddle, we could not have found a more appropriate and deserving charity to receive this donation. We are delighted that our coins will help The Horse Rangers Association to continue with the amazing support it gives children and teenagers, teaching them equestrian skills and responsibilities that help them build confidence and friendships that set them up for life.”

Theresa Barrett added: “What a great morning! We would like to thank The Bradford Exchange for their kind donation as we rely on fundraising and public support to keep the stables going. Having met the Queen, I know how incredibly passionate she is about horses and the positive impact they can have in encouraging children to develop and grow as individuals. It was therefore an honour to receive this equestrian coin commemorating Her Majesty’s Sapphire Coronation Jubilee.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit Ireland

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit Ireland from Tuesday 10th July to Wednesday 11th July. This visit is at the request of Her Majesty’s Government.

Over the course of the trip, Their Royal Highnesses will meet the people of Dublin and will visit organisations which are central to Irish life. This will include a Gaelic sports festival at Croke Park, the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The Duke and Duchess will also attend a summer garden party at the British Ambassador’s residence, where they will meet people from across Ireland’s arts, sports, military and social enterprise sectors.

During their visit to Dublin, Their Royal Highnesses will learn about Ireland’s culture and heritage, including a visit to Trinity College, where they will see the Book of Kells, one of Ireland’s greatest cultural treasures. The Duke and Duchess will also have a moment for reflection at the Famine Memorial, before visiting EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, telling the story of the 10 million Irish people who have emigrated across the world.

Their Royal Highnesses will also learn more about the bright future of Ireland during their time in Dublin, with a visit to DogPatch Labs, a co-working space for technology start-ups. Here, The Duke and Duchess will meet children and young people taking part in free coding workshops, and will also have the opportunity to talk to female tech entrepreneurs.

The programme will include official meetings with The President of Ireland, Michael Higgins, and with The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.

Her Majesty The Queen will attend a Service of Commemoration and Dedication, marking the 200th Anniversary of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George at St Paul’s Cathedral

Thursday 28th June

Her Majesty The Queen, Sovereign of the Order, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, Grand Master, will attend a service marking the 200th Anniversary of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, on the 28th June.

The Order of St Michael and St George is one of the orders of chivalry from which honours are granted by The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister each year.

The Order was founded by The Prince Regent, later King George IV, in 1818 to commemorate the Ionian Islands being placed under British protection and Malta being placed under British Sovereignty. Originally the Order was used to recognise meritorious service to these islands. In 1879 the Order was expanded and is now used to honour distinguished services in connection with foreign affairs and service overseas.

The Chapel of the Order of St Michael and St George is housed at St Paul’s Cathedral and was formally dedicated in 1906. The Knights and Dames Grand Cross display their banners of arms in the Chapel.

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUSSEX TO ATTEND ‘YOUR COMMONWEALTH’ YOUTH CHALLENGE RECEPTION

Marlborough House, London

Thursday 5th July, 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will meet young leaders from across the Commonwealth at a reception hosted by The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, marking the culmination of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Youth Leadership Workshop at Marlborough House in London. The event marks an opportunity for The Duke, who was appointed by Her Majesty The Queen as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador earlier this year, to learn more about how the Commonwealth Youth Forum is supporting inspiring young people to shape the future. The Duke and Duchess will also meet youth representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga ahead of their tour this Autumn.

The Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) provides an opportunity for the young people of the Commonwealth to build cross-cultural connections and networks, debate the challenges facing its young people, agree youth-led initiatives to influence decision makers and ensure young people have a voice in its future. The Youth Leadership Workshop brings together the newly elected Commonwealth Youth Council Executive and leaders of the Commonwealth Youth Networks, with the aim of empowering these young leaders to think about the future, and their role in shaping it.

The final day of the workshop will bring together 120 young people, scholars, youth leaders, and youth representatives of High Commissions to take part in the ‘Your Commonwealth’ Youth Challenge event. Working in groups, these talented young people are encouraged to generate ideas about the type of Commonwealth they want to see in 2040. As part of a Commonwealth where 60% of the population is under 30, these emerging leaders will be asked how they can work together and use the networks they are building now to make their ideas a reality.

The reception will begin with an overview of the day, before The Duke of Sussex and the Secretary-General address the reception. Their Royal Highnesses will then meet the young people who have taken part in the workshops to hear from them directly about their ideas for the future, and the support they need to ensure that their voices are heard.

Her Majesty will host the final Queen’s Young Leaders Awards Ceremony

Tuesday 26th June 2018

Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, accompanied by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will host a reception at Buckingham Palace to present awards to the Queen’s Young Leaders for 2018.

The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme, now in its fourth and final year, celebrates the achievements of exciting young change-makers from across the Commonwealth. This year’s cohort, from across 38 countries, are working to improve the lives of people across a diverse range of issues including supporting people living with mental health problems, access to education, promoting gender equality, food scarcity and climate change.

Among the guests at the reception will be the Chairman of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, Sir John Major, Sir Lenny Henry, David Beckham, Nicola Adams, Caspar Lee, Neelam Gill, Ore Oduba and Tina Daheley.

The Queen was 26 years old when she became Head of the Commonwealth. The Queen’s Young Leaders programme was launched in 2014 in honour of Her Majesty’s lifetime of service to the Commonwealth – a global network of 53 countries and 2.4 billion people, of whom 60% are under 30 years old. In April 2018, The Duke of Sussex was appointed a Commonwealth Youth Ambassador by The Queen.

In the week leading up to the reception, the winners will travel to the UK to participate in a programme of training, mentoring and networking opportunities. This includes workshops at the University of Cambridge and visits to No 10, the UK headquarters of Facebook and the BBC World Service.

The award presentation will be broadcast on Facebook Live, bringing the winners’ families from around the Commonwealth inside the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace.

Background – The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme and the Awards

The Queen’s Young Leaders Award is part of The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme, an initiative established by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust in partnership with Comic Relief, the Royal Commonwealth Society and the University of Cambridge, in recognition of Her Majesty’s lifetime of service to the Commonwealth.

Launched in 2014 by The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex the first round of Queen’s Young Leaders visited the United Kingdom in 2015. Each year from 2014 to 2018, 60 exceptional young people were selected to receive a Queen’s Young Leaders Award and become ‘Queen’s Young Leaders’ – one for every year that The Queen had served as Head of the Commonwealth at the time of her Diamond Jubilee. Guided by the values of the Commonwealth Charter, the goal of the programme is to enable young people to step up as leaders and improve the lives of people across the Commonwealth.

Legacy

The complete network of Queen’s Young Leaders has now been established. While the Programme may no longer be looking for new Award winners, this is just the beginning of The Queen’s Young Leaders’ journey. Over the next 18 months, the Queen’s Young Leaders Programme will continue to champion the initiatives being undertaken by award winners and Highly Commended Runners-Up, support their networks and share their stories. A £200,000 Legacy Fund, open to all 240 Queen’s Young Leaders and 282 Highly Commended Runners-Up, to apply for grants to help elevate their work and enable them to work together to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the Commonwealth will also open in September 2018.

The Queen’s Young Leaders form a unique, dedicated and powerful group of young people from 53 Commonwealth countries who are connecting, collaborating and changing lives together – and they will continue to do so for years to come.

More information about The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme and the Awards is available via the following link: http://www.queensyoungleaders.com

SWAN UPPING 2018

Swan Upping, the annual census of the swan population on the River Thames, has been announced today by The Queen’s Swan Marker, David Barber.

This year, Swan Upping will begin on Monday 16th July, departing from Sunbury Lock Cut, and will finish at Abingdon Bridge in Oxfordshire on Friday 20th July.

Announcing the schedule for Swan Upping, David Barber said:

“Last year saw a significant improvement in cygnet numbers compared to the last two years, with a total of 132 new cygnets on the River Thames. This uplift was welcomed after an outbreak of Avian Influenza at the start of the year.

“Floods and fast flowing water in April posed a further challenge – however some breeding pairs have now successfully rebuilt their nests.

“Throughout the year we have been delighted that members of the public have kept a watchful eye on so many of the nesting swans. It is encouraging to see how important the welfare of swans and their young cygnets are to so many people.”

Swan Upping aims to educate people about swan welfare and the need to protect our mute swan population. Several primary schools will therefore join for the journey up river, and have the opportunity to learn about the mute swan’s biology, the boats used and the Royal connection.

Local schools seeking further information about Swan Upping week should contact the Swan Marker’s office on 01628 523030 or email info@royalswan.co.uk.

The observation points and times are as follows (all times given are approximate):

Monday 16th July 2018

• Sunbury 09.00 – Departure point
• Shepperton Lock 10.15
• Penton Hook Lock 12.30
• Romney Lock 17.30

Tuesday 17th July 2018

• Eton Bridge 08.30 – Departure point
• Boveney Lock 09.30
• Boulters Lock 12.00
• Cookham Bridge 13.00
• Marlow Lock 17.00

Wednesday 18th July 2018

• Marlow Bridge 09.00 – Departure point
• Hurley Lock 10.30
• Hambleden Lock 12.00
• Henley Town 13.30
• Marsh Lock 15.30
• Shiplake Lock 17.00
• Sonning Bridge 18.00

Thursday 19th July 2018

• Sonning-on-Thames 09.00 – Departure point
• Caversham Lock 10.15
• Mapledurham Lock 12.15
• Goring Lock 17.00
• Moulsford 18.00

Friday 20th July 2018

• Moulsford 09.00 – Departure point
• Benson Lock 10.15
• Clifton Hampden Bridge 13.00
• Culham Lock 16.15
• Abingdon Bridge 17.00

The ceremony of Swan Upping takes place during the third week of July every year. Swan Upping dates from the twelfth century, when The Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans which were considered an important food source for banquets and feasts. Today The Crown retains the right of ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen mainly exercises this right on certain stretches of the River Thames and its surrounding tributaries. This ownership is shared with the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Livery Companies who were granted rights of ownership by The Crown in the fifteenth century.

The Queen’s Swan Marker and the accompanying Swan Uppers of the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Livery Companies use six traditional Thames rowing skiffs in their five-day journey upstream to Abingdon. By tradition scarlet uniforms are worn by The Queen’s Swan Marker and Swan Uppers, and each boat flies the appropriate flag and pennant. On occasion, The Queen has travelled up the River Thames to witness the historic ceremony.

It has always been the duty of the Sovereign’s Swan Marker to count the number of young cygnets each year and ensure that the swan population is maintained. The cygnets are weighed and measured to obtain estimates of growth rates and the birds are examined for any sign of injury, commonly caused by fishing hook and line. With the assistance of The Queen’s Swan Warden, Professor Christopher Perrins of the University of Oxford, the swans and young cygnets are also assessed for any signs of disease. The cygnets are ringed with individual identification numbers by The Queen’s Swan Warden. The Queen’s Swan Marker produces an annual report after Swan Upping detailing the number of swans, broods and cygnets counted during the week.

The Queen’s Swan Marker also advises organisations across the country about swan welfare, gives presentations to local schools and charities, and monitors the health of the local swan population. The Queen’s Swan Marker works closely with swan rescue organisations, supervises the rescue of sick and injured swans and advises fishing and boating organisations about how to work with wildlife.

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the Official Handover of the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre to the Nation, Nottinghamshire

Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen, it is a huge honour and personal privilege for me to be here today.

I have been the Patron of the DNRC for 4years and I have enjoyed every single moment of it. I have seen the growth of an idea transfer into what we see today – and it is rare and immensely satisfying thing to have witnessed. Every time I have come here, there is something new – sometimes in terms of thinking, obviously in terms of construction, and always in terms of a will to achieve what my friend Gerald, the late Duke of Westminster set out to do.

Along the way I have demolished a building – George was at an age at the time that he loved seeing the digger in action, so it did my street cred as a father the world of good.

I had my first go on a hand cycle a year ago when the extraordinary hand cycle track had been completed – and I have to admit that it’s more difficult than you might think.

Throughout the process, I have met many of the major donors who have so generously helped make this happen.

And, at every stage, I have been inspired by people who have triumphed in adversity after some very serious wounding.

I very much echo what The Duke of Westminster said earlier, that the opportunity to extend to civilians what has been done on the Defence side of rehabilitation estate is central to what Gerald Westminster set out to achieve – he told me that he viewed it as the ‘big prize’. I should, along with many others here today, very much like to see that opportunity come to pass. To that end, it is heartening that the latest ambassador for the DNRC is a civilian, Billy Monger, who as many of you will know has returned to motor racing after a very serious accident. Hugh Westminster has outlined the many people who have brought the DNRC to this stage. I do not underestimate the complexity of the construction task here and the quality that has been required.

This is been possible because of the engagement of planning authorities across the Midlands; the work of the architects, not least in the course of 300 user groups to ensure the lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan have been captured; and of course we also have to thank those who project managed the construction of this place and Interserve who have actually built this.

I now have a specific duty to perform – to read the winning poem from the DNRC National poetry competition. The number of entries was extraordinary – nearly 5 and a half thousand. Participation in the public vote was also very high and the winning poem gained nearly half of the votes. The poet is here today with her family, and her work will be visible on a mural in the Patient Dining Room for all who are treated here to see it. So let me read you ‘One for the team’:

One for the team

I keep seeing you mate, intact and laughing,

holding up your baby to make us smile.

I keep hearing you mate, joking, urging, ‘come on lads keep together, don’t step on the cracks it brings bad luck’.

‘Keep it tight boys, we’ll be home by the footy season’.

We carried you home, silent and broken, you really took one for the team that day.

Your dad stood with pride head high, don’t cry, don’t cry.

Lucy took the flag, a token for the broken. The baby will have it one day.

They’ll go to the wall to see your name, a game, ‘let’s find daddy’s name’ but I keep seeing you mate, my shrink says you’re not there, that makes us laugh doesn’t it?

What do they know.

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY ROYAL COMMUNICATIONS

Mrs Michael Tindall was safely delivered of a baby girl on 18th June, at Stroud Maternity Unit. Mr Tindall was present at the birth. The weight of the baby was 9lbs 3oz.

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Mike’s parents, Mr Philip and Mrs Linda Tindall, have been informed and are delighted with the news. The baby’s name will be confirmed in due course.

This baby is the second child for Zara and Mike, the fourth grandchild for The Princess Royal and the seventh great-grandchild for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.