Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are slated to visit England for a three-day state visit hosted by King Charles III. They’ll arrive from Nippon and spend Sunday and Monday at private engagements before beginning the official program on Tuesday.
The zenith moment of their visit will be a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. And let us tell people are buzzing to see if Prince William’s wife, Kate, makes an appearance! She has been mostly out of the public eye due to cancer treatment. Read on to know all about it!
Japan’s Imperial Couple Visits Britain For State Event
The three-day state visit hosted by King Charles III will include various events. For starters, Naruhito plans to visit Windsor Castle to lay a wreath on Queen Elizabeth’s tomb. He and Empress Masako turned up at her state funeral in September 2022.
However, it’s hard to predict if they’ll meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It is because Britain is currently in the middle of a general election campaign. Typically, visiting heads of state meet with the PM and opposition leaders or address parliament.
In this case, the Senate is currently dissolved for the upcoming July 4 vote. Moreover, this trip marks Naruhito’s second official state visit since becoming Emperor in 2019. As for Charles, it’s the third state visit he has hosted since he ascended to the throne after his mum’s death.
Additionally, the British Monarch who got cancer-stricken earlier this year, has recently returned to some public duties. He attended the Royal Ascot with Queen Camilla and Prince William.
Meanwhile, Catherine is undergoing chemotherapy and taking a breather from public duties. Still, she recently made a brief public appearance at a military parade in London for the King’s official birthday.
Now, let’s dive into the modern history of Japan and Britain’s relationships. Queen Elizabeth, during her 70-year reign starting in 1952, hosted two Japanese state visits. These included Emperor Hirohito in 1971 and Emperor Akihito, Naruhito’s father, in 1998.
In a press conference before the trip, Naruhito shed light on fond memories of the British royals treating him like family. It was during his time studying in England in the 1980s. The Emperor recalled being invited to Balmoral Castle and enjoying a barbecue with Queen Elizabeth.
He added, “Prince Philip showed me around by driving a carriage himself.” The state visit will also include a Guard of Honour ceremony and visits to museums and the Francis Crick Institute.
Before leaving, the Emperor and empress will visit Oxford, where they both studied, for private engagements. Don’t forget to check out Soap Opera Daily for more such burning updates on King Charles III. And stay tuned for the latest developments on their visit!
