Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan arrive at Stansted Airport, northeast of London, on June 22, 2024.
Benjamin Kremel
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, are on a state visit to the United Kingdom on Saturday (22), amid election campaigning, where they will be welcomed by King Charles III.
This will be the couple's second overseas trip since Naruhito ascended the throne in 2019.
The Emperor, 64, and Empress, 60, will begin their trip with private engagements on Sunday and Monday after landing at Stansted Airport. The official three-day program begins on Tuesday.
The main event was a party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday that fueled speculation about the possible presence of Princess Kate, the wife of William, heir to the throne.
Catherine has been receiving treatment for cancer and made her first public appearance in six months during King Charles III's official birthday bash last weekend.
Naruhito will visit Windsor Castle and lay flowers at the grave of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022.
His funeral was attended by the emperor and his wife, as were many foreign heads of state.
For 75-year-old King Charles III, this will be his third state visit to the United Kingdom since he ascended the throne.
The king was also diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, but resumed his public engagements in April.
The Japanese Emperor Charles III was “very grateful” to receive him.
Before Charles, Queen Elizabeth II played host to two Japanese emperors during her 70-year reign: first to Hirohito in 1971, and then to his eldest son, Emperor Akihito, in 1998.
Before his trip to London, Naruhito recalled private moments with the British royal family on Wednesday.
During his two-year course at Oxford University in the 1980s, he spent a few days as a guest at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
“I have very fond memories of the Queen driving and inviting me to a barbeque […] And Prince Philip who introduced me [os lugares] In person, driving the cart”, he declared.
On the last day of their trip, Naruhito and Masako will visit the places where they studied at Oxford University.
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