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In 1973 the Royal Asiatic Society celebrated its Sesquicentenary (150 years). The archival material includes Planning committee administration; material connected with the various events held, exhibitions put on and publications produced in celebration of the occasion; and material concerned with fundraising for the Society.

Correspondence with Buckingham Palace. Correspondence between the Royal Asiatic Society and Commander W.B. Willett, Buckingham Palace, concerning the Duke of Edinburgh taking Presidency of the Symposium. These are:

• Letter from B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society to Commander Willett, Buckingham Palace, to inquire whether the Duke of Edinburgh would accept the Presidency of the Symposium, undated.
• Letter from Commander Willett, Buckingham Palace, to B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to state that the Duke of Edinburgh would be delighted to accept the Presidency but would be unable to attend due to prior commitment, dated 15 May 1973.
• Letter from A.D.H. Bivar, Director of Royal Asiatic Society, to Commander Willett, Buckingham Palace, to send the Society's thanks for the Duke of Edinburgh accepting the Presidency and to inform of the reception at the Foreign Office on 25 July, dated 22 May 1973.
• Letter from Commander Willett, Buckingham Palace, to A.D.H. Bivar, Director of Royal Asiatic Society, to state that the Duke of Edinburgh will be unable to attend the reception, dated 29 May 1973.
• Letter from A.D.H. Bivar, Director of Royal Asiatic Society, to Commander Willett, Buckingham Palace, to send a draft welcoming statement for the approval of the Duke of Edinburgh, dated 2 July 1973.
• Letter from Commander Willett, Buckingham Palace, to A.D.H. Bivar, Director of Royal Asiatic Society, to send the welcome message from the Duke of Edinburgh. The message is with this letter. Dated 24 July 1973.
• Letter from A.D.H. Bivar, Director of Royal Asiatic Society, to Commander Willett, Buckingham Palace, to thank for the message from the Duke of Edinburgh and report on the warm reception it received, dated 2 August 1973.

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 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.