Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are currently in Great Britain for a three-day state visit. Although the weekend and Monday are reserved for private appointments, the official part of the visit commences on Tuesday. The program includes a carriage procession at Buckingham Palace, a military ceremony of the Royal Guard, museum visits, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s grave at Windsor Castle.
The highlight of the visit will be a state banquet at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening. At 64 years old, Naruhito is the first Japanese state guest in the UK in over two decades. Prior to his departure for Great Britain, Naruhito stated that he felt like he was returning home because of his fond memories of Balmoral Castle in Scotland where he was invited by Queen Elizabeth II during his time as a student in Oxford in the 1980s.
The Japanese imperial couple rarely undertakes state visits and has only gradually resumed their foreign travels after the COVID-19 pandemic. This visit to Great Britain is only the second official state visit by Emperor Naruhito since he ascended to the throne in 2019, with his first being in Indonesia last year.
