The Court Circular

The daily Court Circular is the official listing of the previous day’s Royal events and is printed in The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Scotsman as well as online. The practice of the Royal Household or 'Court' circulating a report of the Sovereign's official daily engagements to the newspapers was reportedly begun by King George III in 1803, after he became frustrated at the inaccurate reporting of Royal events by the national press. Today it remains the definitive account of official Royal events

The Court Circular began with King George III's appointment of a 'Court Newsman' whose job consisted solely of supplying the daily newspapers with accurate information on Royal movements. 

It seems likely that the description of the previous day's Court activities was not originally known by this name and did not appear in the same format that it does today.

In 1819, 1821 and 1823, items of news in The Times were quoted as 'from the Court Circular', and this became a daily heading from 1827.



How the Court Circular is written today

Today, the Court Circular reports the previous day's Royal engagements in selected British newspapers and on this website.

It is written by an Information Officer based in the Private Secretary’s Office at Buckingham Palace.

King George III created the role of a 'Court Newsman', whose job consisted solely of supplying the daily newspapers with accurate information on Royal movements

A copy of the Court Circular as reported in The Times is retained by Buckingham Palace in a special book which is then passed to the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle.

Quotation: ‘King George III created the role of a 'Court Newsman', whose job consisted solely of supplying the daily newspapers with accurate information on Royal movements’

Related content

A speech delivered by The King on the 80th Anniversary of VE Day

We unite to celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible.

08 May 2025

A message from The King in recognition of community-based cancer support groups

The darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.

30 April 2025

The King's message following the tragic events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver

Our hearts and prayers go out to all those whose lives have been shattered by such a desperate tragedy Both my wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful...

30 April 2025

The King's message to Australian Veterans of the Second World War on Anzac Day 2025

The following message was sent to mark the 80th Anniversary year of the War’s end.

24 April 2025

The King's message to New Zealand Veterans of the Second World War on Anzac Day 2025

The following message was sent to mark the 80th Anniversary year of the War’s end.

24 April 2025

The King's message following the death of Pope Francis

His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith.

21 April 2025
News

Royal Maundy 2025

17 April 2025
The King and Queen at the Maundy Service in Durham

A message from The King to mark Easter

There are three virtues that the world still needs — faith, hope and love. “And the greatest of these is love”.

17 April 2025

The King’s speech at the State Banquet at the Quirinale Palace, Italy

It is also moving to think that my great, great grandfather, King Edward VII, and my great-grandfather, King George V, both spoke at State Banquets in this very Palace over a...

09 April 2025

The King delivers an address to the Italian Parliament

It has been one of the pleasures of my life to come to know this irresistible country, and from Turin to Palermo, Verona to Naples, Florence to Trieste, I have learned a...

09 April 2025

The King's message to the regional media industry in the UK

Your reporting, and the work of all those who support you, helps amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share.

27 March 2025

The Duchess of Edinburgh's speech on Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

I implore you now, on behalf of the children of today and tomorrow, to redouble your efforts in prioritising their safety

27 March 2025

A speech by Her Majesty The Queen at a Reception to mark the launch of The Queen’s Reading Room Medal

Making life better is the ultimate aim of my Reading Room. We believe that books make for a happier, healthier and more connected society.

26 March 2025

A speech by Her Majesty The Queen at a Reception to celebrate the 15th anniversary of WOW (Women of the World)

Without fail, wherever WOW gathers, I have met the most extraordinary and impressive women who have, quite simply, refused to take ‘no’ for an answer.

11 March 2025