The Queen holds Audiences throughout the year, wherever Her Majesty may be in Residence.

Usually only The Queen and her visitor are present, although when a newly-appointed foreign Ambassador or High Commissioner arrives to present his or her credentials, then members of their family and officials are sometimes present.

The Prime Minister has a regular audience when both The Queen and he are in London. Before presenting a Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer always has an audience.

Apart from a note in the Court Circular, no written record of Audiences take place, and Her Majesty treats all meetings as private ones.

When The Queen is visiting a Realm, the Prime Minister of the country normally has an audience with Her Majesty, and likewise, when they are in the UK, they may have an audience there.