The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, left Gibraltar for London on Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday he attended the traditional Gibraltar Day mass at Our Lady of Dolours Servite church in Fulham after which he hosted a small reception at Fulham Palace.

On Monday, the Chief Minister spoke at the Gibraltar Finance Services lunch at the Guildhall which was attended by over 300 members of London's banking, insurance and financial services community.

Later this week, Mr Picardo will join other leaders of the Overseas Territories at the annual Joint Ministerial Council before he returns to the Rock on Saturday.

While Mr Picardo is in London and the Deputy Chief Minister is away from Gibraltar for midterm with his family, the Hon Gilbert Licudi will be the Acting Chief Minister.