The Royal Week 13-19 May 2023

Published 19 May 2023

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

The King and Queen meet children at Covent Garden

Sunday 14 May

As President of the Football Association, The Prince of Wales attended the Women's Cup Final between Chelsea Football Club and Manchester United Football Club at Wembley Stadium, Middlesex.

In the morning, The Duke of Kent, as Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys), took the salute at the Annual Parade of the Combined Cavalry Old Comrades in Hyde Park, London.

Monday 15 May

On Monday, The Duke of Edinburgh welcomed young people, who have achieved their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, to the garden of Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness took on the Patronage from his father, Prince Philip, who founded the charity.

The Duke of Edinburgh welcomes Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award winners to the gardens of Buckingham Palace

The Duke of Edinburgh Award aims to empower young people; to support them as they learn new skills, overcome obstacles, and build confidence and resilience.

In the evening, The Princess Royal, as Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers, attended the Annual City Food and Drink Lecture at Guildhall, London.

Tuesday 16 May

At Buckingham Palace, The King held a number of audiences and received credentials.

Mr. Teodoro Lopez Locsin was received by The King and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Republic of the Philippines.

Mr. João Paulo da Costa Rangel was also received by The King and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

The Hon. Russell Mirasty was received by The King upon his appointment as Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.

The Hon. Barbara Baker was received by The King upon her appointment as Governor of Tasmania.

Meanwhile, The Princess of Wales visited the Kelly Holmes Trust to mark Mental Health Awareness Week and participated in the Trust's Social and Emotional Mental Health Programme at Percy Community Centre in Bath.

The Kelly Holmes Trust supports young people facing adversity with coaching and mentoring.

The Princess Royal, as Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Carmen, opened the new Carmen Hall and attended a Service of Dedication at the Guild Church of St. Dunstan's-in-the-West in London.

Later, Her Royal Highness attended a Service to mark the 60th Anniversary of the end of National Service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas. The Princess Royal is President of the Royal British Legion Women's Section.

The Duke of Edinburgh visited Shakespeare North Playhouse Theatre in Prescot.

The Duke of Edinburgh visits the Shakespeare Playhouse in Liverpool

In the afternoon, His Royal Highness was in Leicester, where he visited Shama Women's Centre, The African Caribbean Centre and King Richard III Visitor Centre.

Meanwhile, The Duchess of Edinburgh, as Patron of the Chartered Management Institute, attended the Chartered Management Institute Women Annual Conference at the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

The Duchess of Edinburgh hosts the Not Forgotten Association Annual Garden Party

In the afternoon, Her Royal Highness hosted the Not Forgotten Association Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

Wednesday 17 May

In Their Majesties first engagement since the Coronation, The King and Queen were in Covent Garden, where they met members of the local community, businesses and market stallholders.

The King and Queen visit Covent Garden's Apple Market

At St Paul’s Church, also known as the Actors’ Church, Their Majesties heard about the Drama for Healing Group, which uses acting and drama to support survivors of domestic abuse.

In the West Piazza, The King and Queen visited stallholders in Covent Garden Apple Market, before meeting a few representatives of the Royal Opera House, of which His Majesty became Patron as Prince of Wales.

In the afternoon, The King held a Reception for The Prince’s Trust Awards at Buckingham Palace, where His Majesty met award winners and celebrity ambassadors, and had the opportunity to pass on his personal congratulations.

Later, His Majesty received the First Minister of Scotland, Mr Humza Yousaf, in audience.

The King receives the First Minister of Scotland

The Prince of Wales, in his role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Submarines, met submariners who rowed across the Atlantic in HMS OARDACIOUS at Eton College Rowing Centre.

As Patron of the Women’s Royal Naval Service Benevolent Trust, The Princess Royal attended the Annual General Meeting and a Reception at the Warrant Officers' and Senior Rates' Mess for HMS EXCELLENT in Portsmouth.

Subsequently, Her Royal Highness visited Gosport Station and a Reception at Hornet Services Sailing Club in Hampshire.

The Princess Royal visits NCI Gosport station

In the evening, The Princess Royal, as Commandant-in-Chief of First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps), attended a Recruits' Passing Out Parade at Wellington Barrack in London.

The Princess Royal attends d the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps) Recruits’ Pass Out Parade at Wellington Barracks

Meanwhile, The Duke of Edinburgh attended the Stone of Destiny Thank You Reception at Edinburgh Castle.

The Duchess of Edinburgh visited the Children's Sailing Trust on Trevassack Lake in Helston, before visiting Falmouth University.

The Duchess of Edinburgh visits the Children's Sailing Trust on Trevassack Lake in Helston

At the Royal Academy of Music in London, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended a performance by the Royal Academy Opera of La Cambiale di Matrimonio.

Thursday 18 May

Mrs. Carmen Maria Gallardo Hernández was received by The King and presented the Letters of Recall of her predecessor and her own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Republic of El Salvador.

Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía was received by The King and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Apostolic Nuncio from the Holy See.

Later, The King presented the Queen Elizabeth II Design Award for British Design. During His Majesty’s time at 180 Studios, The King met recipients of scholarships and designer support schemes, leading figures in the fashion industry and those championing sustainable fashion, before visiting the studio of winner LABRUM London.

Meanwhile, The Queen, as Patron of the National Literacy Trust, visited Shirehampton Primary School as they launched their Coronation Library – the first of 50 to be created in communities with low levels of literacy.

Joined by children’s authors and illustrators including Cressida Cowell, Malorie Blackman, Francesca Simon and Rob Biddulph, Her Majesty took part in some of the inspiring literacy-based activities - which included a special draw along!

The Queen with children's authors at Shirehampton Primary School

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, The Princess of Wales visited the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, where Her Royal Highness took part in expert-led conversations on how we can build the mental wellbeing of current and future generations and learnt about interactive activities undertaken by secondary school students.

The Duke of Edinburgh attended the Wessex Heritage Trust Service of Rededication at Longleat Estate. His Royal Highness, as Patron of Northern Ballet, later attended a performance of The Great Gatsby at Sadler’s Wells Theatre.

The Duke of Edinburgh meets actors in The Great Gatsby at Sadlers Wells Theatre

The Duchess of Edinburgh visited Berkshire College of Agriculture and afterwards, in her role as Patron of English Hockey, visited Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre.

The Duchess of Edinburgh visits Bisham Sports Centre

As Royal Colonel of 1st Battalion The Rifles, The Duke of Kent took the salute from the War Memorial in Chepstow, at a Parade through the town.

The Duke of Kent in Chepstow

Friday 19 May

Today, The Princess Royal begun her overseas visit to Canada with visits to "J Division" Headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Memorial; Moncton City Hall; and Vitalité Health Network's Veterans' Health Centre.

As Patron of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, The Duke of Edinburgh held receptions in the garden of Buckingham Palace for young people who have achieved the Gold Standard in the Award.

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