Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, arrived in the United Kingdom on Saturday amid the election campaign for a state visit, where they will be received by King Charles III.
This is the couple’s second visit abroad since Naruhito ascended the throne in 2019.
The Emperor, 64, and Empress, 60, who landed at Stansted Airport, will begin their visit on Sunday and Monday with special events. The official three-day program will begin on Tuesday.
The main event will be a banquet on Tuesday at Buckingham Palace, raising speculation about the eventual attendance of Princess Catherine, wife of heir to the throne William.
Catherine is being treated for cancer and appeared in public for the first time in six months last weekend at the birthday celebrations of King Charles III.
Naruhito will visit Windsor Castle, and will lay flowers on the grave of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022.
The Emperor and his wife attended his funeral, like many foreign heads of state.
This state visit by King Charles III (75 years old) will be the third he has made to the United Kingdom since his accession to the throne.
The king also suffers from cancer, which was diagnosed at the beginning of the year, but he resumed his public engagements in April.
The Japanese Emperor was “extremely grateful” that King Charles III was able to receive him.
Before Charles, Queen Elizabeth II hosted two Japanese emperors during her 70-year rule: first, Hirohito in 1971, and then her eldest son, who was succeeded by Emperor Akihito in 1998.
Before his trip to London, Naruhito on Wednesday recalled his personal memories with the royal family.
During his two years at Oxford University in the 1980s, he was invited to Balmoral Castle in Scotland for a few days.
“I have very good memories of the Queen driving the car and when she invited me to a barbecue (…) and of Prince Philip who made me visit her.” [los lugares] He personally announced that he was driving a carriage.
On the last day of their visit, Naruhito and Masako will visit the places where they studied at Oxford University.
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