King Charles III of the UK Hosted a State Banquet for Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan

 

Their Imperial Majesties, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan made their first official state visit to the United Kingdom from June 22 to June 27, 2024, at the invitation of His Majesty King Charles III. 

The emperor and empress of Japan arrived on the weekend but officially started their state visit on Tuesday, June 25, when they were formally welcomed by King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Horse Guards Parade.

King Charles, Emperor Naruhito, Queen Camilla, and Empress Masako

Prince William with the Japanese imperial couple

Emperor Naruhito attended a solo engagement on Sunday and Monday, visiting Japan House in London and the areas around the Thames River. Empress Masako joined him for the welcome ceremony on Tuesday including the state banquet and a visit to Westminster Abbey to lay the wreath in the tomb of an unknown British soldier.

Empress Masako and Queen Camilla

Welcome ceremony at Horse Guards Parade

State Banquet

King Charles III hosted a state banquet at Buckingham Palace for the visiting imperial couple of Japan, Members of the Royal family who attended were the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. 

The Duke of Kent was seen accompanying the King and Queen as they toured the emperor and empress to the exhibition gallery before the state dinner.

The lavish state reception was served with golden cutlery and a menu including poached Scottish langoustines and Cornish turbot. 

There were Japanese elements also shown in the state dinner tables such as Cherry Blossoms-inspired flowers to pay tribute to Japanese culture. Dessert was ice cream with a peach sorbet insert on compressed peaches, according to Majesty Magazine.

The King delivered a speech saying, "Our governments are working together to provide a stable world for future generations. Supporting all these shared endeavors are the enduring ties between our people that transcend geography".

In his speech, the Emperor paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth, who was monarch at the time of the initial invitation, and lauded the diplomatic ties between Japan and the United Kingdom.

"The multi-layered collaboration and exchange between our two countries are accelerating in various areas including politics and diplomacy, the economy, culture, and the arts, science and technology, as well as education," he said. "Our bilateral relations have never been more robust."

Empress Masako of Japan

For the state banquet, Empress Masako wore for the first time since becoming an empress, the historic Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara of Empress Teimei, the great-grandmother of Emperor Naruhito. 

Queen Camilla also wore for the first time the Royal Family Order of King Charles III. She is the first recipient of this honor from the King. Royal Family Order is granted only to female members of the Royal Family for their excellent service.

Queen Camilla wore the Burmese Ruby Tiara of Queen Elizabeth II. Unlike other tiaras in the jewelry collection of the British royal family, this tiara was not handed down to Queen Elizabeth by her ancestors. It was she who commissioned Garard to create this tiara from the Burmese Rubies given to her as wedding gifts in 1947.

The Duchess of Edinburgh also wore for the first time the Lotus Flower Tiara originally owned by the Queen Mother.

On the following day, the Lord Mayor of London hosted a reception at Guildhall London for Emperor Naruhito, but Empress Masako did not attend and so with King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh represented his brother at the reception.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako left the United Kingdom on June 27.