Travelsleuth's Diary: December Highlights

Royal Britain.

Palace Diary

Court Circular, St. James's Palace. 11 December
The Prince of Wales visited Canada House, Trafalgar House, London SW1 to receive a gift of paintings from The Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour in honour of Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee.

The Queen is in residence at Buckingham Palace during December. She moves to Sandringham House in Norfolk shortly before Christmas and is joined by members of her family for the Christmas celebrations. The Royal Family attends the Christmas services at the local church St. Mary Magdalene.

The Queen's Christmas message to the Commonwealth is broadcast across the world on Christmas Day at 3.00pm GMT on radio and TV. A transcript is available at that time on www.royalinsight.gov.uk.

The Sovereign's Christmas Message was begun by The Queen's grandfather, King George V. He broadcast the first royal Christmas message from a makeshift studio under the stairs at Sandringham on 25 December 1932. It was his first informal broadcast and written with the aid of novelist Rudyard Kipling. His opening words may prove apposite this year for soldiers serving in the Afghan conflict: "I speak now from my home and from my heart to you all….to men and women so cut off by the snows, the desert, or the sea, that only voices out of the air can reach them."

Royal engagements are scaled down before the New Year, though the Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy traditionally attend a number of carol concerts as charity patrons during the month. The Queen normally gives a private Christmas party and present giving at Buckingham Palace before she leaves for Sandringham.

Sporting highlights during the Christmas period include the annual Olympia International Show Jumping Championships at the Olympia Exhibition Centre, London W14, attended by The Duke of Edinburgh on 19 December. The Newbury Charity Race Day takes place at Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire, on 19 December in the presence of The Princess Royal. The racing highlight is the ever popular Kempton Park Christmas race meeting, which includes the Pertemps King George VI Chase on 26 December. This great steeplechase is a key part of the National Hunt season and was regularly attended by The Queen Mother in earlier days.

BOOKING THIS MONTH
Apply now for tickets for the Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle,(June); the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (August); Enclosure badges and luncheon table for the Grand National, Aintree (April).