Imperial Family

Emperor, Empress Arrive in U.K. for State Visit; Couple to Visit Oxford University

The Yomiuri Shimbun
The Emperor and Empress arrive at Stansted Airport on the outskirts of London on Saturday evening.

By Sho Mizuno / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

8:56 JST, June 23, 2024

LONDON – The Emperor and Empress arrived in the United Kingdom on Saturday evening for a state visit.

This is the first time since 1998 for an emperor and empress to visit the United Kingdom as state guests, and it is their second overseas international goodwill trip as a couple since the Emperor took the throne, fallowing a trip to Indonesia in June last year.

After arriving at Stansted Airport on the outskirts of London, the Imperial couple smiled and shook hands with British government officials who came to greet them.

On Sunday, the Emperor will meet with Japanese residents and British people with ties to Japan at his London accommodation. Official events will begin on Tuesday when the couple will attend a welcoming event and a dinner hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The Emperor and Empress will on Friday visit Oxford University, where they once studied, before returning to Japan the following day.