The Royal Week 3-9 June 2023

Published

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

The Royal Week

Saturday 3 June

The Prince of Wales, as President of the Football Association, attended the FA Cup Final between Manchester City Football Club and Manchester United Football Club at Wembley Stadium.

The Princess Royal, President of The Duke of Edinburgh's Commonwealth Study Conferences arrived in Banff for the conference.

Founded by The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, the 2023 conference brough together 300 of the world’s most promising emerging leaders from business, government, labour, and the community sector.

The Duke of Kent officially named the new RNLI lifeboat, RNLB Duke of Edinburgh. The state-of-the-art Shannon class lifeboat was named Duke of Edinburgh to commemorate The Duke of Edinburgh’s long-standing commitment to maritime services.

Sunday 4 June        

In Banff, The Princess Royal attended the Opening Plenary of the Commonwealth Study Conference.

Over two weeks, the Conference will expose each member to new experiences, provoking arguments and different perspectives, so that the quality and relevance of their decision-making as leaders is improved.

Monday 5 June

The King sent a message to the President of the India following the train crash in Odisha.

I pray, therefore, that you may be able to convey our most heartfelt prayers and sympathy to all those who have been affected by this appalling tragedy, together with our special thoughts for the people of Odisha.

The Duke of Gloucester, Patron of Heritage London Trust, opened the newly restored Cabmen’s Shelter at Albert Bridge in London.

Tuesday 6 June

It was announced that The King had commissioned portraits of pioneering members of the Windrush Generation. Marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush to British shores in 1948, a documentary, to be broadcast on Windrush Day, has been made by BBC Arts will showcase the creation of the portraits.

The completed portraits will become part of the Royal Collection and stand as a lasting memorial to all the men, women and children who came to Britain from the Caribbean and gave so much of themselves to rebuild a nation devasted by war. 

The King attended the new Wigmore Hall concert series at St James’s Spanish Place and presented the Royal Philharmonic Society Honorary Membership to Master of the King’s Music Judith Weir.

The Princess of Wales visited the Windsor Family Hub to hear about the important work the organisation carries out to provide support to families across Windsor, Maidenhead and the surrounding areas.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron of London Youth, visited Woodrow High House – facility owned by the charity that provides outdoor learning opportunities and sports facilities.

His Royal Highness was welcomed by the centre’s staff team alongside senior leaders at London Youth and given a walking tour of the grounds. The tour included meetings with outdoor instructors and children and young people from visiting schools.

The Duchess of Edinburgh was in Surrey, where she visited Artventure Trust in Guildford, which is a charity that supports adults with learning disabilities, physical impairments, or autism to be creative, have fun, and make new friends in a safe and sociable environment.

Her Royal Highness, in her role as Patron, then visited Shooting Star Children’s Hospice and then opened the newly re-opened the newly-renovated Haste Wing at the Royal Surrey County Hospital.

The Princess Royal, Patron of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, attended the Environmental Sustainability Study Day, and later as Patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, attended their care forum in Kettering.

Wednesday 7 June

At Buckingham Palace, The King presented Honours at Buckingham Palace to members of the Army who were involved in the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Princess of Wales, Patron of the Rugby Football Union, met local and national male players at Maidenhead Rugby Club to discuss the Shaping Us campaign, hear more about their own childhood experiences and speak about the role that community settings can play in supporting children and parents.

The Duchess of Edinburgh attended Shallowford Trust’s Farm to City: Dartmoor to You ‘pop-up’ farm at Providence House Youth Club in London.

Her Royal Highness later helped to celebrate pupils’ at Richard Atkins Primary School fundraising efforts as part of the NSPCC’s Childhood Day.

The Princess Royal attended the Canadian Armed Forces Day Reception at the High Commission of Canada.

The Duke of Kent, Patron of the Tank Museum, viewed the ‘Tanks in Popular Culture’ exhibition at the Tank Museum in Bovington.

His Royal Highness, as RNLI President, then visited All-Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole, Dorset.

Thursday 8 June

The King held a Meeting at Buckingham Palace for Disasters Emergency Committee member agencies Chief Executive Officers and aid workers.

The Queen visited the Garden Museum to open the annual British Flowers Week Exhibition.

Her Majesty was also announced as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Lancers.

To mark the appointment, The Queen hosted a reception at Clarence House for the Regiment – who her father, Bruce Shand, served with.

Later at Windsor Castle, The King and Queen hosted The King and Queen of the Belgians.

The Royal Week

The Prince of Wales, President of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, attended the official opening of the Oak Cancer Centre – a new state-of-the-art research and treatment facility – at The Royal Marsden in Sutton.

The Oak Cancer Centre, funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, will help accelerate the development of new treatments and enable clinicians to diagnose more cancers at an earlier stage. It has been designed to create a bright and peaceful environment which will help to enhance patients’ experience while undergoing treatment. In October 2020, The Prince laid the foundation stone at a ground-breaking event for the new building.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh opened a woodland in memory of Queen Elizabeth II at Royal Ascot Golf Club.

The Princess Royal, Honorary Air Commodore, Royal Air Force Brize Norton, attended a Parade to mark the retirement of C-130J Hercules and the disbandment of 47 Squadron at Royal Air Force Brize Norton.

The Duke of Kent and The Duchess of Kent, Co-Founder, Future Talent, held a Reception and Concert at St. James's Palace to celebrate the work of the Charity.

Related content

A speech by The Queen in celebration of the 30th anniversary of The Women's Prize for Fiction, Bedford Square

Careers have been launched, bestsellers have flown off the shelves into the hands and hearts of the public, and each year you distribute 3,000 books to people in need. And you...

11 June 2025
News

The King visits Lancaster

09 June 2025
The King in Lancaster

The Speech from the Throne, delivered by His Majesty The King, to open the first session of the 45th Parliament of Canada

Honourable Senators, Members of the House of Commons, It is with a sense of deep pride and pleasure that my wife and I join you here today, as we witness Canadians coming...

27 May 2025

A message from The King following the terrible incident in Liverpool

I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need.

27 May 2025

Remarks by His Majesty The King at the Presentation of Union Standards to The Household Cavalry, Windsor Castle

Even while you perpetually produce the highest standards of ceremonial magnificence, you remain at the same time a most impressive array of soldiers whose core role, and most...

12 May 2025

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
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