Japanese State Visit to Britain

King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom are hosting the Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan on their long-awaited State Visit to the United Kingdom this week, which was originally scheduled for 2020. Despite the fractious years of the Second World War, the British Royal Family and the Japanese Imperial Family have had a close relationship over the past 150 years.

The Prince of Wales greeted Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on behalf of the King at their Hotel in London on the morning of June 25th, before traveling with them to Horse Guards Parade.

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla (wearing the late Queen’s Williamson Pink Diamond Brooch) formally welcomed the Emperor and Empress at the Royal Pavilion on Horse Guards Parade, while the Guard of Honour played a Royal Salute and the Japanese National Anthem was played as part of the Ceremonial Welcome.

The King accompanied the Emperor to inspect the Guard of Honour, formed by 1st Battalion Welsh Guards with the Band of the Welsh Guards, before joining the Queen, Empress, and Prince of Wales, for a carriage procession in the along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where they were met by a second Guard of Honour found by 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

The Royal Family joined the King and Queen Camilla to show items from the Royal Collection to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in the Picture Gallery of Buckingham Palace!

🔗https://t.co/WpSGZOa0ov pic.twitter.com/PtbXAIPnSg
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) June 25, 2024

Following a private lunch at Buckingham Palace, the King invited Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to view an exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items from the Royal Collection relating to Japan, joined by other members of the Royal Family, including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Later, the Emperor and Empress paid a visit to Westminster Abbey, where the Emperor laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.

Finishing touches and a sneak peek ahead of this evening’s State Banquet… ✨ pic.twitter.com/BFVRNKx1g7
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 25, 2024

In the evening, King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted a State Banquet in honour of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan at Buckingham Palace.

Both the King and the Emperor gave speeches highlighting the links between the United Kingdom and Japan.

For over four hundred years, our nations have inspired each other, learning from each other’s experience and enriching our industries, cuisines and cultures with elements borrowed and shared.’

King Charles III appointed the Emperor to the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest and and highest Honour in the United Kingdom, while the King received the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum, the highest Japanese Order.

Empress Masako wore Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara with the Order of the Precious Crown.

Queen Camilla wore the Burmese Ruby Tiara, King George VI Festoon Necklace, the Order of the Garter, the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II, and the new Royal Family Order of King Charles III.

The Prince of Wales wore the Order of the Garter with the Neck Badge of the Order of the Bath.

The Duchess of Edinburgh is wearing the Lotus Flower Tiara with the Sash and Star of the Royal Victorian Order and the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Duchess of Gloucester wore Cartier India Tiara and Diamond Earrings with the Order of the Garter and the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Duchess of Norfolk wore an heirloom Sapphire and Diamond Necklace.

Lady Susan Hussey wore the Waldegrave Tiara with the Sash and Star of the Royal Victorian Order.

Other ladies in Tiaras.

Day 1

Ceremonial Welcome on Horse Guards Parade
Carriage Procession to Buckingham Palace
Lunch at Buckingham Palace

Visit to Westminster Abbey
State Banquet at Buckingham Palace

Day 2

Visit to The Francis Crick Institute
Banquet at the Guildhall

Day 3

Official Farewell
Visit to St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle
Tour of the Temperate House at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew

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Their first exchange between the British Royal Family and the Japanese Imperial Family occurred in 1869, when Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria, visited Japan and met with Emperor Meiji, who was granted the Order of the Garter by Prince Arthur of Connaught in 1906.

In 1921, the Prince of Wales made a visit to Japan, while Crown Prince Hirohito visited Britain and was received by King George V, where the then Prince of Wales joined the Japanese Crown Prince throughout the visit.

In 1937, Prince and Princess Chichibu represented the Japanese Imperial Family at the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

Following the fractious Second World War, when relations between the two Royal Families were at an all time low, Crown Prince Akihito made a six-month World Tour to attend the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

A decade later, the Japanese Imperial Family hosted Princess Alexandra of Kent on her 8-Day Official Visit to Japan in 1961, which was was the first visit by a member of the British Royal Family to Japan since 1930. Emperor Hirohito (wearing the British Order of the Garter even though it had been revoked) and Empress Nagako (in the Meiji Scroll Tiara) hosted a Banquet in honour of Princess Alexandra (wearing the Kent Pearl Bandeau) at the Imperial Palace, which was also attended by Crown Prince Akihito, Crown Princess Michiko (in the Pearl Sunburst Tiara), and Princess Chichibu (in a Diamond Tiara).

In 1971, Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako of Japan had Tea with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor at their home, the Château Le Bois, on the Bois du Boulogne in Paris, reliving their old friendship.

A few days later, Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako were welcomed by the Queen and members of the British Royal Family on their State Visit to Britain, during their Tour of Europe to reestablish relations in their first visit after the Second World War.

The Queen (wearing the Vladimir Tiara), Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Mother (wearing the Greville Tiara) hosted a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in honour of the Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako (wearing the Meiji Scroll Tiara). The Prince of Wales, Princess Anne (wearing the Cartier Halo Tiara), Princess Margaret (wearing the Poltimore Tiara) and the Earl of Snowdon, the Duke and Duchess of Kent (wearing the Cambridge Sapphire Parure), Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (wearing her Honeysuckle Tiara) and Prince Richard of Gloucester, and Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone (warring her Diamond Palmette Tiara) were also present.

Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako hosted a Return Banquet at the Japanese Embassy in London for the British Royal Family, including the Queen (wearing the Belgian Sapphire Tiara and George VI Sapphire Parure), Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen Mother (in the Oriental Circlet Tiara), Princess Anne (wearing Princess Andrew’s Meander Tiara), Princess Margaret (in the Lotus Flower Tiara), and Lord Snowdon.

Four years later, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were hosted by Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako on their first and only State Visit to Japan in 1975, with a Banquet hosted by the Emperor and Empress (in the Meiji Scroll Tiara) in honour of the Queen (wearing the Burmese Ruby Tiara) and Duke at the Imperial Palace.

Other events included a procession through Tokyo, a Dinner hosted by the Prime Minister, a traditional Japanese Dinner in Kyoto, and a Return Dinner hosted by the Queen (wearing the Vladimir Tiara) and Duke in honour of the Emperor and Empress at the British Embassy.

There have been various visits between members of the British Royal Family and the Japanese Imperial Family over the past few decades, with a frequent visitor being Princess Chichibu.

The then Prince Naruhito studied at the University of Oxford between 1983 and 1985 and met the Queen and members of the Imperial Family on several occasions, including an appearance on the Balcony of Buckingham Palace.

He has been fly fishing with the young Prince Charles, driven through Balmoral by Prince Philip and had a barbecue with Queen Elizabeth II.

The Japanese Imperial Family hosted the Prince and Princess of Wales on their Official Visit to Japan in 1986, with a splendid Banquet in honour of the Prince and Princess (wearing her Saudi Sapphire Choker as a Headband) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

In 1990, the Prince and Princess of Wales represented the United Kingdom at the Enthronement of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

The Queen (wearing the Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara) and Duke of Edinburgh hosted a State Banquet for Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan (in the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara) on their State Visit to the United Kingdom in 1998.

The Emperor and Empress attended a Banquet at the Guildhall and also hosted a Return Banquet for the Queen (wearing the Vladimir Tiara) and members of the British Royal Family.

In 2008, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited Japan to mark the 150th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations, where they joined several members of the Imperial Family for two separate Dinners hosted by the Emperor and Empress as well as the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan visited the United Kingdom on an Official Visit in 2007, and were also among the Royal Guests at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in 2012.