The Royal Week 8-14 October 2022

Monday 10 October

The Prince and Princess of Wales visited BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat to take part in a special episode about young people and mental health on World Mental Health Day.

The youth-focused news programme invited The Prince and Princess of Wales to lead a discussion with campaigners and experts in the field of mental health.

The Earl of Wessex, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award arrived in Romania where the Award’s 14th International Forum was taking place.

The Countess of Wessex was in Botswana as a Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), seeing first hand the lasting impact and legacy of the work undertaken by the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust (QEDJT).

Her Royal Highness visited Molefe Primary School, where she learnt about the nationwide programme, Pono Yame, which means ‘My Vision’. The programme offers all school-going children in Botswana eye health screening, assessment and treatments, from glasses to surgeries. It is the first government-led programme of its kind in Africa, and is based on technology from Peek Vision, a digital diagnostic tool which was one of the initiatives funded by the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.

At the start of Hospice Care Week, The Duchess of Gloucester visited Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice where she met patients, and long-serving staff and volunteers.

Tuesday 11 October

The King and The Queen Consort attended a reception in Ballater to thank the community of Aberdeenshire for their organisation and support in the delivery of the events following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

In Romania, The Earl of Wessex gave a speech at the Welcoming Ceremony for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Forum.

At a reception for local entrepreneurs at the Residence of the British High Commissioner, in Gaborone, The Countess of Wessex met entrepreneurs and sampled some of their products.

The Princess Royal, President of the Riding for the Disabled Association visited the Blairgowrie Group to celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary. Her Royal Highness later visited the International Fire and Rescue Association's training facility in Fife and the Lakes Distillery.

The Duke of Kent, Honorary Air Chief Marshal of the RAF, visited UK Space Command at RAF High Wycombe.

Wednesday 12 October

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, accompanied by The Raja Permaisuri Agong, visited The King at Buckingham Palace.

His Majesty later had an Audience with the Prime Minister.

The Prince of Wales, as President of the Earthshot Prize, held a virtual meeting the Mayor of Boston, Ms. Michelle Wu. Boston will host the Awards Ceremony in December.

The Countess of Wessex arrived in Malawi and attended a dinner to celebrate the Elimination of Trachoma in Malawi. Read more about the visit.

The Princess Royal hosted an Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Her Royal Highness later held a reception at St James’s Palace to celebrate 50 years as Patron of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. The Princess later attended the Annual National Service for Seafarers in St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron of SeeAbility, held a Reception at Buckingham Palace.

Thursday 13 October

To mark World Sight Day, The King sent a message to Malawi to congratulate the country on eliminating Trachoma.

The Countess of Wessex was in Malawi as they celebrated this milestone, meeting those who have benefitted from transformational Trachomatous Trichiasis eye surgery.

In Glasgow, His Majesty officially reopened The Burrell Collection following its six-year long refurbishment.

Displayed in a purpose-built, A-Listed museum in the city’s Pollok Country Park, The Burrell Collection was officially opened to the public by Queen Elizabeth on 21 October 1983. There was also a chance for The King to meet the crowds who had gathered to welcome him.

The Queen Consort visited a maternity unit at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital to meet key health-based domestic abuse Independent domestic violence advisors (IDVAs) and staff working in the field.

The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Domestic Abuse model is a working example of a coordinated community response, whereby the Acute Provider Hospital works in close partnership with specialist agencies Standing Together, Victim Support and Galop.

The Prince of Wales hosted an Investiture at Buckingham Palace.

His Royal Highness, accompanied by The Princess of Wales, later attended a reception to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Coach Core scheme at the Copper Box Arena in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The Royal Foundation launched the Coach Core programme in 2012, in response to the London riots and to contribute to the legacy ideals of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Since then, the now independent charity has supported over 750 disadvantaged young people onto community sports coaching apprenticeships, which will enable them to start meaningful careers, re-engage with education and increase activity levels in their local areas.

In Romania, The Earl of Wessex visited the Academia de Fotbal Viitorul Cluj to meet young people participating The Duke Edinburgh’s Award and celebrating their achievements.

Established in the country over 20 years ago, currently over 10,000 young people across Romania are participating in the award scheme.

The Princess Royal, as Patron of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK), attended the Women in Logistics Annual Conference in Warwick.

Friday 14 October

On the final day in Romania, The Earl of Wessex received Me. Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, where The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award was being held.

His Royal Highness also attended the closing ceremony of the forum.

In Malawi, The Countess of Wessex visited Kamuzu Central Hospital.

In Pembrokeshire, The Princess Royal visited a local Riding for the Disabled group and officially opened Haverfordwest High School.

Her Royal Highness later attended the World Rowing Coastal Championships Beach Sprint and opened the Coastal Schooner Interpretation Centre.

In Kent, The Duke of Gloucester visited St George’s Centre in Kent to see some of the community activities on offer, including art classes and accessible sports facilities.