Language in use  
English Language & Linguistics

English Language

 

 

Court Circular

A recent article in The Times described possible changes that could take place in the style of official communications from Buckingham Palace.

The Court Circular is a unique record of the working lives of the Queen and the Royal Family and is published daily in The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Scotsman. It records investitures, visits by VIPs, Heads of State and diplomats, the events, lunches, state dinners and receptions undertaken by the Royal Family. It is written in very formal style.

The article showed examples of an early Court Circular dated 1785, a recent example from 1998 and a suggested future version. You should look at several up-to-date Circulars, which are not the same as the list of Royal engagements featured on the Monarchy website at www.royal.gov.uk

A criticism of the Circular at present is that it is "formulaic" and lacks life. "There is no adequate chronicle of Royal Family life between the Court Circular and Hello! magazine" according Palace officials. The future version would be "more appealling" and "more accessible". It is likely to be more news-driven than the Circular, to feature personalities of interest to a young readership and be written in a journalistic style, though not as populist as a tabloid newspaper.

Read the three examples below and find more current examples from newspapers. Comment on the differences between the three styles.

Choose suitable events from the authentic Court Circular and rewrite them into a modern version. You may present it either as a page from a newspaper or as a Web page for the Monarchy website.

Comment on the style you have adopted.

1785
LONDON

Yesterday their Majesties came from Windsor, and last night honoured the Theatre with their presence.
This day being New Year's Day, their Majesties will appear in the drawing room at St. James's, and receive the compliments of the nobility, gentry, and foreign ministers on the occasion of the day. The following Ode, composed by Paul Whitehead, Esq. Poet Laureat, will be sung in the Great Council Chamber.

1998
BUCKINGHAM PALACE

September 1: The Duke of York, Patron the Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association, later opened the Fire Services European Volleyball Championships at Huddersfield Sports Centre.
September 2: The Duke of York, Admiral of the Sea Cadets Corps, this evening presented the prizes at the Sea Cadet Associaation Sailing Regatta, Port Solent, Portsmouth Harbour, and was received by Commander Colin Balfour RN (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire).
KENSINGTON PALACE
September 3: The Duke of Gloucester this morning opened the Society of Model and Experimental Engineers (SMEE) centenary exhibition at Brunel University, Uxbridge.

Future
PRINCE ANDREW

Fulfilling his role as Patron of the Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association, the Duke of York recently visited Huddersfield Sports Centre to open the Fire Services European Volleyball Championships. The fun continued the following day when Prince Andrew, Admiral of the Sea Cadets Corps, travelled south to present the prizes at the Sea Cadet Association Sailing Regatta at Port Solent, Portsmouth Harbour. There to welcome him to the city was the Vice Lord LIeutenant of Hampshire, Commander Colin Balfour RN.

 

 

 

 

 

Links