Japan’s Emperor Naruhito arrives in UK for 3-day state visit

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived in Britain on Saturday for a three-day state visit hosted by King Charles.

A special flight from Japan landed at London’s Stansted airport. The royal couple are to spend Sunday and Monday at private engagements before the official programme begins on Tuesday.

The highlight will be a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, with all eyes on a possible appearance by heir to the throne Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton, rarely seen in recent months due to cancer treatment.

Naruhito, 64, will also go to Windsor Castle, west of London, to lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth, whose state funeral he and the empress, 60, attended in September 2022.

With Britain in the midst of a general election campaign, it was not immediately clear if there would be a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Visiting heads of state typically hold talks with the premier and opposition leader, or address lawmakers in parliament. But parliament has been dissolved before the July 4 vote.

The trip will be the emperor’s second official state visit since his accession to the throne in 2019, following a visit to Indonesia last year.

For Charles, 75, it will be the third state visit he has hosted since he became king following the death of his mother.

Like Kate, he was diagnosed with cancer this year but has made a limited return to public duties. He was seen this week with his wife Queen Camilla at the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting.

Kate, Princess of Wales, is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

She made a first tentative return to public life last week when she attended a military parade in London to mark Charles’ official birthday.

Elizabeth, whose 70-year reign began in 1952, hosted two Japanese