The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-25 00:00:00

tkt Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Ws 24.
This day her Majesty completed her 47th year.

The Queen drove in the grounds yesterday afternoon,
and walked and drove spin this morning, accompanied by
the Princess Helena.

The Princess Louise, Princess Beatrice, and Prince
Arthur also walked and drove.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, attended by the
Countess of Macclesfield and Major Teesdale, and Prince
Alfred, attended by the Hon. Eliot Yorke, arrived at the
Castle this morning, and remained to luncheon.
Count Gleichen also arrived, and remained to luncheon.
Prince Arthur arrived at the Castle yesterday, attended
by Major Elphinstosie.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by
Prince Alfred, visited the Queen at Windsor Castle yes-
terday morning.

Their royal highnesses dined with the Duke and Duchess
of Sutherland at Stafford-house in the evening.

Despatches were received yesterday et the Colonial office
from the Governor of Canada. Despatches were sent to
the Governor of Canada.

The name of the Countess Therese de Bernstorff was
inadvertently omitted from the list of attendances in the
diplomatic circle at the Queen's Drawing-room on Wednes-
day last.

CABINET COUNCIL.—There will be a Cabinet
Council this afternoon, at the Earl Russell's official resi-
dence, in Downing-street. The council is summoned for
2 o'clock.

The Prince and Princess of Wales honoured the
Duke and Duchess of Sutherland by their presence at
dinner last evening, at Stafford House, St. James's.
Among the company invited to meet their royal high-
nesses were her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge
and Princess Mary, his Highness Prince Teck, &c. Later
in the evening the duchess had a concert and dancing
party.

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess
Mary and Prince Teck will honour the Duchess of Inver.
nese with their presence at dinner on Saturday next at
her apartments at Kensington Palace.

His Excellency the Turkish Ambassador's first
ball is fixed to take place on the 20th of the ensuing
month.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter received
the following company at dinner yesterday evening, at
their residence in Grosvenor-square :—The Earl of Har-
rowby, Lady Mary Sandon, Sir John and Miss Trollope,
Sir Fowell and Lady Victoria Buxton, Mr. and Lady
Louisa Fortesoue and Mule Fortescue, Mr. and Lady
Louisa Finch and Miss Finch, Mr. and Lady Adeline
Norman, Captain Smith, &c.
On Wednesday evening, Alderman Copeland the
late, and Mr. Beresford Hope, the present, conservative
member for Stoke-upon-Trent, were entertained at dinner.
A dessert service waa presented to Mr. Copeland in recog-
nition of his services as member for the borough during
the period of twenty-three years. Speeches were made by
Mr. Adderley and Mr. Beresford Hope against the minis-
terial measure of reform.

The Duke of Arun, in reply to a request that
he would sign a petition in defence of the Westminster
Confession, and against innovations, which is being pre-
pared for presentation to the General Assembly of Scot-
land, declines to comply with the request, because he is
not aware that any doubt has been cast on the West-
minster Confession u the " doctrinal standard of the
church," and because he does not know that any changes
have been made in the forms of public worship which ex-
ceed the reasonable liberty which ought to be allowed to
the various congregations of the church.