Travelsleuth's Diary: October Highlights
October, 2001
The Autumn season of 'black tie' Charity Balls and Gala Ballet Evenings at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and musicals at West End Theatres begins now.
October is the start of the pheasant shooting season. Big shoots are once again in fashion and rented days can be booked though the website www.hotbarrels.com or estate agents Strutt & Parker on 020 7629 7282 or FDPSavills on 0207 499 8644. Among the best shoots are Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire, (Lord Hartington), Belvoir, (Duke of Rutland), Abbeystead in Lancashire, (Duke of Westminster), Castle Hill in Devonshire, (Lord Aaron). The Queen's private weekend shooting parties at Sandringham are renowned for the excellent shooting, the buffet lunch served during and the evening barbecues after the shoot.If you have not received a royal invitation to shoot and barbecue you can at least buy a brace of pheasant at the Sandringham Estate or Windsor Castle shop.
Beagle Hunts hold their opening meets in mid October. From then until mid March some 130 packs of beagles, harriers and basset hounds will meet on Saturdays to chase the elusive hare. Meets will be circumscribed in some parts of the country this year under ongoing foot and mouth restrictions.
The Queen and Court have returned from Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands to Buckingham Palace for the Autumn Season. The Palace State Rooms and Garden are now closed to the public until next summer, when a number of special events will take place to mark The Queen's Golden Jubilee.
The Queen and members of the Royal Family will undertake some 140 public engagements in Britain as well as official visits overseas during October.
The Duke of York is in New York 15 and 16 October to undertake engagements linked to the UKwithNY Events. He flies thence to Bulgaria for a two day official visit. On 26 October he flies to the Gulf States for a series of official visits to Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
The State Opening of Parliament is normally the Autumn highlight of The Queen's diary of engagements, taking place in great pomp and pageantry in late October or early November. This year however, owing to the General Election, a State Opening took place in June, and the same Parliamentary session will continue until next autumn.
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