Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko of Japan made an Official Visit to Spain on this day in 1973, 50 years ago, where they were received by Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia on behalf of General France. Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko visited Spain again in 1985, and made a State Visit to Spain (as Emperor and Empress) in 1994.
Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia, as the Heirs of General Franco, received Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko of Japan at the Airport in Madrid, after which the Crown Princely couple had an audience with General Franco.
In the evening, Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia (wearing the Prussian Diamond Tiara and the Order of the Precious Crown) hosted a spectacular Banquet in honour of Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko (in the Pearl Sunburst Tiara and the Order of Isabella the Catholic) at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, while there was another Banquet at the Royal Palace of Madrid.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia went on a State Visit to Japan in 1980, and after Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko visit to Spain in 1985, the Spanish Royal Family hosted the Imperial Couple on a State Visit in 1994, with another Spanish State Visit to Japan in 2008, and King Felipe and Queen Letizia made a State Visit to Japan in 2017.
