The welcome ceremonies for the eight-day state visit will be in London on Tuesday.
Emperor of Japan Naruhito and the empress Masako have left for a week-long state visit to Britain. It is only the second state visit of the imperial couple abroad after Naruhito ascended the chrysanthemum throne in 2019.
The imperial couple was originally scheduled to arrive on a state visit to Britain already as the queen of Elizabeth II as a guest in 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic prevented the trip then, but the imperial couple attended Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022.
King Charles III hosted the first state visit since he was diagnosed with cancer.
Naruhito says he is grateful that despite being ill, the king is hosting the visit. So does the Princess of Wales, who is being treated for cancer Catherine’s participation in, for example, celebratory dinners has not been reported.
– I understand that it is difficult for both of them, but I hope that the treatments will go well and that both will recover quickly, Emperor Naruhito said at the press conference held during the visit.
On Sunday and Monday, the imperial couple has a private program.
Official reception ceremonies will be held on Tuesday, when the Prince of Wales William welcomes guests and escorts them in their royal carriages down The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
The imperial couple will also visit Oxford, where both studied. The Emperor also makes a private visit to Queen Elizabeth’s grave at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.
As the British election campaign is in the middle, the couple will not meet the Prime Minister Rishi Sunakia.
AFP, Reuters