Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan will officially begin their three-day State Visit to the United Kingdom tomorrow, as part of an eight-day visit to Britain. The State Visit, which was originally scheduled for 2020, is the latest visit between the British Royal Family and the Japanese Imperial Family over the past 150 years.
The Schedule
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
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have arrived in London ahead of the State Visit.
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
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 Emperor Hirohito (wearing the British Order of the Garter even though it had been revoked) and Empress Nagako (in the Meiji Scroll Tiara) hosted a Banquet in honour of Princess Alexandra (wearing the Kent Pearl Bandeau) at the Imperial Palace, which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.
In 2015, the then Duke of Cambridge made a four-day visit to Japan, where he met the Crown Prince as well as Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
The Prince of Wales represented the United Kingdom at the Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in 2019, and also attended the Enthronement Banquet.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were among the Royal Guests at the Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Most recently, the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla was attended by Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko.
