State Visit from the Emperor and Empress of Japan: 25-27 June 2024


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
I saw the State Diner and Speeches in live but could not hear anything !
I saw the 4 pages - 15 minutes King's Speech and then the Emperor Speech, King Charles looked so tired during the Imperial Speech.
He missed nothing the 60 years Celebration of the Debarquement , went to France , Trooping the Colors , The Garter , 3 Ascots and Japanese State Visit. I hope now He will rest and continue his cancer treatment .
 
Toledo has posted a video on the previous page, and the speeches seem perfectly audible there, if you want to listen to them again.

Not that it matters much, but out of curiosity: why were the King and Queen in the middle, flanked by the emperor and empress? Wouldn't the proper etiquette be the two heads of state in the middle and flanked by the other's spouse?
 
iceflower said:
Day 2 today, June 26.

Emperor Naruhito visited the Francis Crick Institute:


** gtresnews gallery **


** gettyimages: GBR: The Emperor And Empress Of Japan State Visit To The United Kingdom – Day 2 **
Click to expand...
So no royal to accompany the Emperor and Empress on Day 2 events? But they have other events today? So different from the European royals on State visits where they are always accompanied by someone from the royal family (ie the recent Danish State Visits to Sweden and Norway).
 
i spotted this article of the emperor's time in his alma mater in the UK, oxford, which he is visiting at the end of the state visit. i thought it provided a nice glimpse into his life in the UK and as a student:

www.bbc.com

When your uni neighbour turns out to be a prince

A former student remembers what it was like living next door to the future Emperor of Japan.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
Mbruno said:
As explained, given Catherine's absence, Sophie was the second highest ranking female royal in the order of precedence (after the Queen). So she was seated where the Princess of Wales would be normally seated and I guess it made sense that she would be also given a "tiara upgrade", with a diadem also previously worn by Catherine.
Click to expand...

Marengo said:
Toledo has posted a video on the previous page, and the speeches seem perfectly audible there, if you want to listen to them again.

Not that it matters much, but out of curiosity: why were the King and Queen in the middle, flanked by the emperor and empress? Wouldn't the proper etiquette be the two heads of state in the middle and flanked by the other's spouse?
Click to expand...
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip followed the same seating arrangememts, see here.

wartenberg7 said:

Pity neither the Dchss of Edinburgh nor the Empress attend the Guildhall banquet....!
Click to expand...
Maybe the Duchess of Edinburgh did not attend precisely because the Empress would not be there either.
 
carlota said:
i spotted this article of the emperor's time in his alma mater in the UK, oxford, which he is visiting at the end of the state visit. i thought it provided a nice glimpse into his life in the UK and as a student:

www.bbc.com

When your uni neighbour turns out to be a prince

A former student remembers what it was like living next door to the future Emperor of Japan.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
Click to expand...
Nice to hear from the emperor's old friend, and that he hopes his daughter will be friends with Aiko as well.

I had no idea the Emperor goes by Hiro. I wonder if many of the Japanese royals go by their titles?
 
Prinsara said:
Nice to hear from the emperor's old friend, and that he hopes his daughter will be friends with Aiko as well.

I had no idea the Emperor goes by Hiro. I wonder if many of the Japanese royals go by their titles?
Click to expand...
Given that their daughters are in their 20s, it is a bit late to start hoping they will meet and develop a friendship...

If I recall correctly, officially, the Oxford visit is not part of the state visit (although today's visits were also without a royal host, so not much of a difference).
 
Somebody said:
Given that their daughters are in their 20s, it is a bit late to start hoping they will meet and develop a friendship...
Click to expand...
I'm afraid I can't agree. Perhaps it's unlikely they will be best friends who see each other frequently or speak for hours, but surely hoping they will meet and like each other and be able to communicate occasionally is not too much? Not only are there different forms of friendship, if there was an age limit cutoff, the world would be an even sadder place.

Back to the state visit...
 
Typically, if children of friends become friends as well that is because they connect at an early age when the families mingle with each other. It seems the two of them don't meet often, i.e. rarely, so it would be even more unlikely that they suddenly start meeting with their daughters in tow - given that it hasn't happened over the last 20 years when Naruhito wasn't emperor yet. But of course, he is free to 'hope' but it will be an empty dream.

But indeed, his Oxford visit has no formal relationship to the state visit. Nonetheless, I am glad that Naruhito managed to get most out of his trip to the UK by adding some private visits prior and after the state visit.
 
Marengo said:
Toledo has posted a video on the previous page, and the speeches seem perfectly audible there, if you want to listen to them again.

Not that it matters much, but out of curiosity: why were the King and Queen in the middle, flanked by the emperor and empress? Wouldn't the proper etiquette be the two heads of state in the middle and flanked by the other's spouse?
Click to expand...
I wondered about that too!
 
Marengo said:
Toledo has posted a video on the previous page, and the speeches seem perfectly audible there, if you want to listen to them again.

Not that it matters much, but out of curiosity: why were the King and Queen in the middle, flanked by the emperor and empress? Wouldn't the proper etiquette be the two heads of state in the middle and flanked by the other's spouse?
Click to expand...
It could be done in various ways, probably because of old habits in the respektive country.

Guests in the middle - In Norway is the visiting guests placed in the Middleton between the King and Queen of Norway. Probably a curtsey to placethe guests of honour in the prime seats.

Heads of State in the middle - In for instance Denmark and the Netherlands the two Heads of State are placed in the middle with the spouses on both sides.

Hosts in the middle - In UK when dining at Buckingham Palace the guests are seated on boyh sides of the hosts that takes the centre of the table.

Opposite of each other - In both Spain and Sweden (and UK when dining at Windsor Castle) the hosting Head of State and visiting spouse are placed facing the visiting Head of State and hosting spouse at a long table. Here an alternate male/female policy is used so it could also be Heads of State next to each other, but pairing up host and visitor.

Clearly mqny different ways to do the placement, and would be internt jnow the backgrund in the various countries.
 
The Emperor and Empress of Japan bid farewell to the King and Queen of the United Kingdom
 
Last edited:
No kisses between the King and the Emperor , which is normal , but friendly 2 kisses for the Empress .
The Emperor did not kiss Queen Camilla's hand. Is that normal ?.
 
maria-olivia said:
No kisses between the King and the Emperor , which is normal , but friendly 2 kisses for the Empress .
The Emperor did not kiss Queen Camilla's hand. Is that normal ?.
Click to expand...
I thought it looked very friendly, and natural, nothing forced at all. It was the Empress who leaned in for the kiss. All in all a very successful visit I would say.
 
On June 28th, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited University of Oxford. They first visited Balliol College where Masako studied, and attended luncheon hosted by the university's president. Empress Masako was awarded an honorary doctorate in law.

Afterwards, the couple visited Merton College, where Naruhito studied, and planted a cherry tree before departing for Japan from RAF Brize Norton.

Photos: Getty Images, Mainichi, Asahi

Japan’s Emperor, Empress Plant Cherry Tree During Visit to Oxford Alma Maters; Emperor Praises ‘Rich Opportunities’ Oxford Colleges Gave to Imperial Couple - The Japan News
They also attended a luncheon at Balliol College. The Emperor gave a speech to the attendees, who included the Empress’ former teachers, according to the Imperial Household Agency. He said the couple cherishes the incomparably rich opportunities and wonderful memories that the University of Oxford has given to them.
Click to expand...

Japan Emperor, Empress Revisit University of Oxford | Nippon.com
The Imperial couple arrived at the university's Balliol College around 11:40 a.m. After being welcomed by Christopher Patten, the university's chancellor, they walked around the college. The Empress was reunited with her former supervisor and dormitory manager there.
Click to expand...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806807572449493394

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806807822669160761

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806814421945323781

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806814595300090276

 
What 'reason' was given for the honorary degree for the empress?

How wonderful that she was able to visit the college that her husband attended as a university student.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SLV
Sankei reports (Google translation) "On the occasion of her visit to the UK, the university decided to award her an honorary doctorate in law, citing her excellence as a student and her dedication to the study of law and international relations. The Emperor himself received a similar honorary degree in 1991."

-----

Video from inside Claridge's hotel as Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako leave for the state banquet:

www.instagram.com

Peter Thomas Roth on Instagram: "Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan on their way to a state banquet at Buckingham Palace with King Charles and Queen Camilla , as they leave the hotel we are both staying at. What an honor to see them in the

peterthomasroth on June 25, 2024: "Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan on their way to a state banquet at Buckingham Palace with King Charles and Queen Camilla , as they leave the hotel we are both staying at. What an honor to see them in the lobby. And check out her Crown Jewels...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

----

Japanese Emperor and Empress visit their alma mater | University of Oxford includes transcript of Emperor Naruhito's speech at luncheon on June 28.

-----

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako returned to Japan around 6pm on June 29. They were greeted by the Crown Prince Akishino couple and other officials.

Photos: AP Images, Getty Images

Imperial Couple Return from Visit to Britain; Reflect on Being Delighted by ‘Deepening Bonds’ Between Two Countries - The Japan News

Emperor Naruhito's speeches at the state banquet and Guildhall: Imperial Household Agency (English)

Impressions of the state visit, published on June 29: Imperial Household Agency (Japanese)

-----
Gifts exchanged for the state visit.

BBC - What was on the banquet menu for Japan's emperor?
[...] The Japanese royals brought symbolic gifts, a black lacquerware box for the King and a brocade handbag for the Queen, plus a framed photo of the emperor and empress.

The lacquerware was a reference to this year’s Noto Peninsula earthquake, with this type of design a traditional product of Wajima city that was affected by the earthquake.

King Charles gave his guests a pair of silver and gold beakers and although more normally associated with a drop of Laphroaig whisky, he gave a bottle of Glen Garioch, diplomatically from a Japanese-owned Aberdeenshire distillery.

The Queen presented Empress Masako with a handmade fan incorporating good luck symbols. [...]
Click to expand...

Sankei reports Queen Camilla received a Saga Nishiki handbag which she promptly brought with her at the banquet. The fan Empress Masako received was decorated with her personal emblem "Rosa rugosa"
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Blog Real
State Visit of the Emir of Qatar: December 3-4, 2024
Replies
4
Views
504
Hans-Rickard
Hans-Rickard
LadyFinn
Swedish State Visit to Singapore: November 19-21, 2024
Replies
0
Views
308
LadyFinn
LadyFinn
Blog Real
Japanese State Visits: General Discussion, Suggestions, Musings
Replies
6
Views
1K
Blog Real
Blog Real
Blog Real
State Visit from Iceland to Denmark: October 8-9, 2024
2
Replies
49
Views
5K
polyesco
P
Blog Real
Official Visit from Spain to Jordan: October 5-7 2024
2
Replies
35
Views
4K
Somebody
Somebody

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom