Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako yesterday left for the UK ahead of a three-day state visit hosted by Britain’s King Charles III.
The royal couple wre due to touch down on a flight from Japan and spend today and tomorrow at private engagements before the official program begins on Tuesday.
The highlight would be a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. Naruhito, 64, also plans to go to Windsor Castle west of London to lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II, whose state funeral he and the empress, 60, attended in September 2022.
Photo: AP
With Britain in the midst of a general election campaign, it was not immediately clear if there would be any meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Visiting heads of state have typically held talks with the premier and opposition leader, or addressed lawmakers in parliament.
But there are no lawmakers, as parliament has been dissolved before a vote on July 4.
The trip would be Emperor Naruhito’s second official state visit since his accession to the throne in 2019, following a visit to Indonesia last year.
For King Charles, 75, it would be the third state visit he has hosted since he ascended to the throne following the death of his mother.
Speaking in Tokyo ahead of the trip, Naruhito said Britain’s royals treated him “like family” during his time studying in England in the 1980s.
Naruhito recalled that during his two years at Oxford University, he was invited to Balmoral Castle in Scotland for a few days.
“I have very fond memories of the queen driving a car and inviting me to a barbecue ... and Prince Philip showing me around by driving a carriage himself,” he told reporters at a rare news conference.
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