Correspondence concerning the attendance of the Queen at the Royal Asiatic Society's Sesquicentenary celebrations. These are: Letter from Lord Scarbrough to Professor C.F. Beckingham concerning the possibility of the Queen attending an event for the Society's Sesquicentenary, typed, dated 13 December 1968. Letter to Mr B.W. Robinson concerning the wording of an invitation to the Queen for the Sesquicentenary, typed, dated 10 July 1970. On reverse is a handwritten draft of the invitation. Letter from Buckingham Palace to state that it was too early to assess whether the Queen would be able to preside over the Society's Sesquicentenary dinner and for the Society to contact again in 1972, typed with printed letterhead, dated 14 July 1970. Letter from B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to request the Queen's presence at a Reception on 15 March 1973, typed, dated 18 February 1972. Letter from Buckingham Palace to Mr B.W. Robinson to state that the Queen's 1973 programme will be decided at the end of the year when the invitation will be brought to her attention, typed with printed letterhead, dated 22 February 1972. Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to acknowledge receipt of letter of 22 February, typed, dated 23 February 1972. Letter to Buckingham Palace to state that the date of the Reception is not fixed and the Society plans to mount a small exhibition of the Society's collections on the occasion, typed, dated 5 December 1972. Letter from Buckingham Palace to Mr Robinson, Royal Asiatic Society, to confirm the date of Monday 19 February for the Reception, typed with printed letterhead, dated 18 December 1972. Letter from Royal Asiatic Society to Buckingham Palace replying to one of 18th December and to state the Society's delight that the Duke of Edinburgh will accompany the Queen, typed, undated. Letter from B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to Mr Moore, Sandringham, to ask advise concerning the programme, typed, dated 8 January 1973. Letter from B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to ask further advise concerning the Reception, typed, undated. Letter from Sandringham to B.W. Robinson to answer his question regarding the Reception, typed with printed letterhead, dated 10 January 1973. Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to enclose a draft timetable, typed, dated 29 January 1973. Letter from Buckingham Palace to Miss Crawford, Secretary of Royal Asiatic Society, to state that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have given their approval to the draft timetable, and asking for a detailed programme to now be sent, typed with printed letterhead, dated 2 February 1973. Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to enclose a detailed programme, typed, dated 6 February 1973. Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to enclose the biographical details that had been requested, typed, dated 9 February 1973. Letter from Buckingham Palace to Miss Crawford, Secretary of Royal Asiatic Society, to confirm the Press arrangements for the Reception, typed with printed letterhead, dated 13 February 1973. Letter from Buckingham Palace to Mr B.W. Robinson President of Royal Asiatic Society, to thank the Society on behalf of the Queen for their enjoyable visit, typed with printed letterhead, dated 20 February 1973. Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to enclose a photograph of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for them to sign, typed, dated 2 May 1973. Letter from Buckingham Palace to Miss Crawford, Secretary of Royal Asiatic Society, to return the signed photograph, typed with printed letterhead, dated 9 May 1973. Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to thank for the photographs, typed, dated 18 May 1973.

Correspondence concerning the Sesquicentenary Reception. This falls into 6 categories:

• Letter from Ralph Tubbs, tenant at 56 Queen Anne Street, to state that he and his staff will have vacated the premises by 5.30pm on date of the reception, 1 item.
• Correspondence with Press, 2 items.
• Correspondence with City Hall concerning the Reception, 3 items.
• Letters of acceptance to the Reception, 49 items.
• Letters of regret concerning the Reception, 17 items.
• Letters of thanks after the Reception, 2 items.

Visitors' Book for the Sesquicentenary Reception containing the signatures of the guests including those of Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

Newspaper cuttings from The Times, 19 February 1973, The Times, 20 February 1973, The Daily Telegraph 20 February 1973, and Mayfair News, 2 March 1973, and unknown paper, all reporting on the Queen's visit to the Royal Asiatic Society's Sesquicentenary Reception.

18 black & white photographs documenting the Sesquicentenary Reception. Many show the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh being introduced to other guests. Some of these have been mounted on card. Also 20 small photographic negatives.

Material concerning the Royal Asiatic Society's Sesquicentenary Dinner held on 25th October 1973 at the Merchant Taylors' Hall.

Organisational material for the Sesquicentenary Dinner. These are:

• Minutes from the Meeting of the Dinner Committee held on 6 September 1973.
• A draft of a letter to Fellows soliciting whether they wish to attend the Dinner. Dinner List, 1973 - a list of attendees.

• Three copies of the Admittance card to the Sesquicentenary Dinner held at the Merchant Taylors' Hall, 30 Threadneedle Street, London, on 25 October 1973; one of these is written out for Mrs M.S. Hackforth-Jones and another for Mr C. Hackforth-Jones.
• Two copies of the form to make application for tickets to the Sesquicentenary Dinner.

Correspondence with Buckingham Palace concerning the Prince of Wales' attendance. These are:

• Letter from President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to invite the Prince of Wales to the Sesquicentenary Dinner, dated 10 July 1972.
• Letter from Buckingham Palace to Mr B.W. Robinson to thank for invite but to suggest that the invite is extended nearer the time, dated 24 July 1972.
• Letter from President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to confirm the date of the Sesquicentenary Dinner and to ask whether the Prince of Wales would become a Vice-Patron, undated.
• Letter from President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to again invite the Prince of Wales to the Sesquicentenary Dinner, and to enclose a copy of the speech made by the then Prince Of Wales at the Society's Centenary in 1923, undated.
• Letter from Buckingham Palace to Professor Simmonds, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that regretfully the Prince of Wales will be unable to attend the Dinner due to naval commitments, dated 29 June 1973.
• Letter from President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Buckingham Palace to convey their understanding but disappointment that the Prince of Wales will be unable to attend the Sesquicentenary Dinner, dated 12 July 1973.

Correspondence with Merchant Taylors' Hall concerning the hosting of the Sesquicenteary Dinner at the premises on Threadneedle Street. These are:

• Letter from B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall to ask whether the possibility of holding the Sesquicentenary Dinner at the Hall could be made official, dated 21 April 1972.
• Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that the Master and Wardens have agreed in principle to the use of the Hall, dated 19 July 1972.
• Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that the Master and Wardens have agreed with the terms and conditions concerning the Sesquicentenary Dinner and to stipulate some costs and their preferred caterer, dated 12 January 1973.
• Letter from B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, regarding the terms and conditions, and to invite the Master to the Dinner, dated 15 January 1973.
• Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to confirm acceptance of use of the Hall, dated 29 June 1973. Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose the Company's account for the Dinner, dated 29 October 1973.
• Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to enclose the cheque for the Society's Dinner, dated 12 November 1973.
• Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose the receipt for the cheque, dated 23 November 1973.