UPDATE 7.24.12: We have another post showing the official schedules for Kate, William and Harry as released by St. James’s Palace, along with times for most of those events. That post is here. (I think you may still enjoy the background material in this post, but in the interest of being sure you know where to find scheduling specifics I wanted to share the link to the more recent post.)

We are only a few days away from Opening Day ceremonies for the London 2012 Games, we thought it a good time to review upcoming events.

Most will remember Kate, William and Harry are official Olympic Ambassadors; Thursday they welcome the Torch Relay to Buckingham Palace.  You can read about each of the Torch Bearers carrying the flame through the “Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea” as the route is officially called. More on Thursday’s activities from Metro:

In Westminster the torch will be carried through Trafalgar Square, site of the celebrations in 2005 when London was awarded the Games, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace, before an Olympic Torch Relay Finale concert in Hyde Park, featuring artists such as Dizzee Rascal, The Wanted and Mark Ronson.

Torch Relay Route via London 2012

The Telegraph has a splendid story looking at how involved the trio of young royals will be during the Games, including this quote from a ‘senior aide’:

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry have been tremendously excited about the Olympics for a long time and want to throw themselves in to the Games and help out as much as they can.

They will be out and about for much of the two weeks, but as well as watching the sports and meeting many of the athletes and visiting dignitaries, they hope to meet a whole cross-section of people, from volunteers to cooks in the Olympic village, who will make the Games a success.

The story notes that all senior royals plan to attend the Opening Ceremonies after a “Buckingham Palace reception hosted by the Queen for foreign heads of state and government attending the Games,” so Friday’s agenda really includes two events, the reception and the Opening Ceremonies.

One of the sports many think Kate will be watching, women’s hockey. Team GB Hockey (women’s) opens their schedule against Japan on Sunday the 29th. Here is the rest of the schedule for the women of Team GB’s field hockey (as it is called in the UK) team:

• July 31 1.45pm Korea
• August 2 7pm Belgium
• August 4 4pm China
• August 6 7pm Holland

Some think the young royals will watch Team GB Cycling’s Mark Cavendish compete in the Olympic Cycling Road Race, this event falls on Saturday, the 28th, start time is 10am (5am EDT). Mr. Cavendish is a favorite, the route is right by Buckingham Palace.

The Mirror’s story on who will watch what sport offers this:

Sources said sporty Kate was keen to see the hockey and sailing and that FA President William was particularly interested in the football and tennis.

(The FA is the Football Association, commonly known as soccer in the USA.) Team GB’s first match is scheduled before the Games officially start, they play Senegal at 8pm (3pm EDT) on the 26th. That match is being held at the Old Trafford venue, where Manchester United holds its games.

Multiple reports say Kate and William are likely to watch tennis, especially when Andy Murray is on the court. It is the first time since 1908 when Olympic tennis has been played at the All England Club. (Tennis was not played in the 1948 Games.) First round Men’s Singles play begins on the 28th, as it also does for Women’s Singles, the Team GB Tennis page is here.

Royal cousin (and daughter of 1976 Olympic Equestrienne Princess Anne) Zara Phillips competes for Equestrian Team GB in the three-day eventing category, that combines jumping, dressage and cross-country riding. It is widely expected William, Harry and Kate will cheer on their royal cousin, competition in equestrian events begins Saturday, July 28.

• to see the Olympic Equestrian event schedule click here
• the Equestrian Team GB Facebook page is here

Many other Royals are expected at Olympic events, including Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice. Kate, William and Harry will also be on hand for the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, August 12, that is a firm appointment on the agenda.

Another update to Kate’s calendar, Clarence House has announced Kate will be on hand for the UK’s Creative Industries Reception on Monday, July 30. This is part of the GREAT Campaign, an effort by the UK to showcase “everything that the UK has to offer, as one of the best places in the world to live, work, visit, invest and do business.”

GREAT Campaign/Department for Culture, Media and Sport

It’s possible Victoria Beckham will be at the reception, she is an Official Ambassador for the GREAT Campaign.

“We have some incredible British fashion talent to be proud of,” Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said. “From royal wedding dress designer Sarah Burton to GREAT ambassador Victoria Beckham, British designers are among the best in the world.”

GREAT Campaign/Department for Culture, Media and Sport

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In other news about the young royals, there is word that William, Kate and Harry plan to launch a new charitable initiative targeted at helping inner-city youth.  The newly named Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will announce the new program at an event this week.

The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry

Formerly known as the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, the Duchess of Cambridge is now officially included in its title, and the website has been overhauled. The site clearly details the three areas of interest for the charity (the Armed Forces, Conservation efforts and Young People), showcasing past events and information about the Foundation’s work.

©US Chamber of Commerce/Ian Wagreich via The Royal Foundation

Moving back to the plans for the new undertaking from the Foundation, we go to the Express story:

It will be the first time all three have appeared together for their foundation, which was registered under its new name last week.

It will inject almost £200,000 into a pilot programme run by Greenhouse, which was also handpicked by William and Kate as one of their 26 wedding charities last year.

Greenhouse works with those aged 8-18, helping young people who are struggling with behavioral and/or education issues.  More from the Express on how the program will work:

…funding a groundbreaking training programme to place inspirational coaches in disadvantaged communities.

Their ambition runs much deeper than just encouraging active lifestyles” they want to use the power of sport as catalyst for social change.

They will train up a network of specialist role mode coaches who will inspire students to become “better people” in general, to mix with other communities and to make them more attractive to employers.

We’ll bring you more on the new effort when the information is made public.  As many might guess, having Kate involved in the Foundation is no small thing, more from the Telegraph on an entirely different “Kate Effect,” one that has nothing to do with clothing sales.

Donations to a charitable foundation set up by the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry shot up almost ten-fold after the Duchess joined the Royal family, latest accounts show.

In other Kate-related charity news, the BBC reports that EACH Hospices, of which the Duchess is a patron, is also enjoying benefits from her involvement. The story notes that interest in EACH has increased, one new effect since Kate came on board is the geographic reach of news coverage, especially following her first speaking engagement at an EACH location back in March:

The speech was covered by the media around the world, including being streamed live by major international news networks.

Filming by news crews from Canada, Australia and the US created “unprecedented global awareness” of a children’s hospice which began in rural Norfolk.

“People Magazine came to speak to us from the US and we’ve had the Chicago Times run an article,” said Mr Hempsall.

A tip of the hat to our pal A Petite Princess, her efforts at raising funds for a new playground at the group’s hospice in Ipswich are noted; the story also updates sales of those distinctive EACH bracelets so many have purchased since seeing Kate wearing hers.

UK Press Association/EACH

As an FYI, the bracelets are still available at only £10, that price includes shipping anywhere in the world. (Our original post on that March appearance may be found here.)

A few links you may find helpful:

• The Official Torch Relay site and Torch Relay Facebook page are both outstanding resources, you can also watch a live feed of the Relay
• To keep track of what is happening when, the official London Games schedule page might be one you want to bookmark
• The London 2012 website is here, the Facebook page is here
• For US viewers the NBC Olympics page is helpful,
• Those interested in following Team GB will find the NBC Team GB page
• A new feature for this year’s Games is the Official Athletes’ Hub, once registered you can follow specific athletes’ tweets, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and other social media. The site is run by the IOC
• Learn more about the Royal Foundation by clicking here
• The Express story about the soon-to-be-announced new coaching initiative is here
• Learn more about EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices) and/or order the bracelet
• The Telegraph piece on Kate’s charitable impact is here