Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrive for state visit four years after Covid delayed it - week-long trip will see them enjoy banquet with the King and visit Oxford University Japanese leader and his wife arrived in sunshine at Stansted Airport on Saturday Trip had originally been planned for 2020 - but Covid stopped the state visit READ MORE: Emperor Naruhito of Japan admits his family is running out of heirs By Jo Tweedy For Mailonline Published: 09:18, 23 June 2024 | Updated: 10:22, 23 June 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako are finally on English soil, four years after their state visit was put on hold because of the pandemic. The couple enjoyed a warm welcome as they arrived late afternoon at Stansted Airport for the week-long official state visit. The Japanese Emporer, 64, and his wife did attend the Queen's funeral in 2022 - this week he revealed how the late monarch had treated him 'like family' when he'd visited the UK previously - but it's taken four years to re-arrange a state visit.
Today and tomorrow the couple will carry out private engagements before their time in an official capacity begins on June 25th. Empress Masako looked elegant in a powder blue suit with white lapels and a coordinated hat, with her husband wearing a matching shade of blue on his tie. Both Emperor Naruhito, who ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019, and his wife Empress Masako, 60, spent time as students at Oxford University.
We're fin.
