The Week’s Royal Engagements

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

Sunday 4 December

The Countess of Wessex attended a Meeting with His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States of America (Her Excellency Dame Karen Pierce) at the Deputy Head of Mission’s Residence in Washington DC, USA.

The Week's Royal Engagements

Her Royal Highness visited Washington as part of her work championing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.  

Monday 5 December

At the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security The Countess of Wessex accepted the 2022 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for her work raising awareness of preventing sexual violence in conflict.

The Duchess of Gloucester, Royal Patron of Missing People, attended the “Evening of Hope” Carol Service in the Borough Welsh Congregational Chapel in London.

Princess Alexandra, Joint President of Cancer Research UK, attended the charity’s Carol Concert in St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square in London.

Tuesday 6 December

In Bedfordshire, The King met community leaders and voluntary organisations at a reception at Luton Town Hall.

His Majesty had the opportunity to meet local groups and members of the public, including representatives from The Ghana Society, the Royal British Legion, the Luton Town Football Academy, veterans, and cadets.

The King then visited the newly built Guru Nanak Gurdwara, speaking to volunteers and learning about the programmes they deliver for the local community.

The day in Bedfordshire finished at Luton DART Parkway Station, where His Majesty learnt more about the new cable-drawn mass passenger transit system that is connecting Luton Airport Parkway rail station to London Luton Airport.

The King and The Queen Consort, accompanied by The Prince and Princess of Wales, hosted the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace.

At Kensington Palace, The Prince of Wales, as President of Fields in Trust, held a Roundtable.

As Chancellor of the University of Bath, The Earl of Wessex visited the Spectrometry Lab and presided over degree ceremonies.

In Washington, The Countess of Wessex attended a meeting on Women, Peace and Security, and the ‘Breaking the Barriers of Entry for Women Leaders in Africa’ at the United States Institute of Peace Headquarters.

The Week's Royal Engagements

The Princess Royal, President of the City and Guilds of London Institute, presented The Princess Royal Training Awards at Banqueting House, Whitehall, London SW1.

The Duke of Gloucester presented the National Railway Heritage Awards at Merchant Taylors’ Hall.

The Week's Royal Engagements

Wednesday 7 December

The King joined a special event at Central Hall Westminster to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Business in the Community (BITC).

Founded in 1982, BITC is the largest and longest-established membership organisation dedicated to responsible business.

At Clarence House, The Queen Consort invited children supported by Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity to decorate the Christmas tree.

The tree had been delivered earlier in the week by working shire horses from Operation Centaur, who travelled across central London, pulling a carriage containing the tree.

To mark the 100th anniversary of Good Housekeeping Magazine, The Queen Consort, The Princess of Wales, The Princess Royal, The Countess of Wessex, The Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra have all contributed to a special issue highlighting some of the important causes they support.

Featuring on the cover of this month’s Good Housekeeping, The Queen Consort discusses the work of the domestic abuse charity SafeLives to raise awareness of their important work.

The Prince of Wales hosted an Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

In his role as Patron of the Passage, His Royal Highness also sent a message to mark the 30th ICAP Charity day.

The Duke of Kent visited Steam – Museum of the Great Western Railway in Swindon to see its award-winning displays and hear the story of Swindon’s rich industrial past as a railway town.

The Week's Royal Engagements

His Royal Highness, as Patron of the British Computer Society, Chartered Institute for Information Technology, visited the society’s headquarters in Swindon.

Princess Alexandra switched on the Christmas Lights and attended a reception at the Travellers Club.

Thursday 8 December

The King joined a reception with Christian Communities at King’s House, which is a community hub founded by King’s Cross Church (KXC), which serves as a place of worship and vital support for people from all walks of life in the local area.

His Majesty later attended an Advent Service at the Ethiopian Christian Fellowship Church.

At Buckingham Palace, The King also held two Credential ceremonies; His Excellency Mr Eitvydas Bajarunas, Ambassador from the Republic of Lithuania and His Excellency Mr Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner for the Republic of India, both presented their Letters of Recall of their predecessors and their own Letters of Credence.

The Countess of Wessex as Patron of Guide Dogs attended their Christmas Carol Service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

The Week's Royal Engagements
The Countess of Wessex meets Guide Dog Molly at the Guide Dogs’ annual Christmas concert at St Paul’s Cathedral. Over 2100 people attended and enjoyed musical entertainment from the world-famous St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, Carly Paoli, and Classical Reflection plus inspiring stories and festive readings from celebrity guests David Walliams, David Bradley, Joanna Scanlan, Ruth Jones and Lucy Edwards. The service was held to raise vital funds to help people living with sight loss live the lives they choose. | Picture © Christopher Ison for Guide Dogs.

The Duke of Gloucester as Patron of Heritage Trust London visited Queen Mary’s Hospital for the East End Arch.

Friday 9 December

The King and The Queen Consort visited Wrexham as it celebrated being granted city status.

Their Majesties visited Wrexham AFC, where they met the club owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, alongside players, to learn about the redevelopment of the club.

At National Trust site Erdigg, The King, joined by the First Minister of Wales, planted an oak sapling, grown from the ancient Pontfadog Oak.

His Majesty and The First Minister had previously viewed the sapling during a visit to the National Botanic Gardens in July 2022, which had been grown to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee and has now been planted in her memory.

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