The Duke of Gloucester received the Lord Prior of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, and the Duke of Kent, 90, presided over a degree ceremony at the University of Surrey – a former staple of the royal calendar seldom seen in the modern days of the slimmed-down monarchy.
Prince William, cheered on by his wife Catherine, played his annual polo match in Windsor, bringing the total it has raised for charities over the years to £15m.
Looking ahead
And there is more to come this weekend. It will bring Wimbledon finals, of course – a staple of the Princess of Wales’ calendar.
There are other engagements too, that do not hit the bar to enter the court circular. Briefings, red boxes and the daily tea-with-guest that the King has adopted as part of his working life all roll on.
Visitors this week have included Sir Nicholas Coleridge, the new chairman of the King’s Foundation. There has been a farewell audience for the King’s long-serving protection officer – known only as Jag and famous among royal watchers for his calm presence by His Majesty’s side throughout his reign – who was invited to bring his family in for royal thanks upon his retirement.
Next week it will start again. The Isle of Man, the Royal Osteoporosis Society, an independent bookshop and a brewery are among the venues lined up for royal attention.
The King, aged 77, in front of the cameras in 35C heat in London on Thursday, told reporters: “I do hope you are not feeling it too much.”
“It gets harder as you get older, you know,” he added.
Most of the country will be unaware of at least half the work he has done this week, as members of his family are scattered around the country on duty.
But now you, at least, know.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.telegraph.co.uk ’
