Through interviews with related parties, it has been learned that arrangements are being made for Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to make an official visit to the United Kingdom as state guests for about a week starting around the end of June this year.
Regarding the visit of Their Majesties to the United Kingdom, four years ago, upon receiving an invitation from Queen Elizabeth at the time, arrangements were made between the two countries for the visit to be a goodwill visit as a state guest, marking the first overseas visit of the Reiwa era. However, it was postponed due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection.
According to sources, arrangements are being made for the visit to start around the end of June and last for about a week, with Their Majesties attending a welcome event as state guests at Buckingham Palace in London, the capital of the United Kingdom.
It is also said that plans are being considered for a visit to Oxford University, where Their Majesties once studied, and a tour of facilities related to water transportation on the Thames River, which the Emperor studied while studying in England.
This is the third foreign visit for Their Majesties since ascending the throne, the first being a friendly visit to Indonesia in June last year.
The Imperial Household and the British Royal Family have had a close relationship for a long time, and their Majesties visited in September last year to attend Queen Elizabeth's state funeral, and in May of last year, Prince Akishino and his wife visited and attended the coronation of King Charles. He attended the ceremony.
The British royal family announced in February that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer and had begun treatment, and careful coordination will be made between the governments of the two countries while taking into account the progress of the king's treatment. It will be.