The three-day state visit, which is being hosted by King Charles III, begins on Saturday when the Japanese emperor Naruhito and empress Masako land in Britain.
After arriving on a plane from Japan, the royal couple will attend private events on Sunday and Monday before the formal schedule kicks up on Tuesday.
The highlight will be a state dinner at Buckingham Palace, where everyone will be watching for a potential appearance by Prince William’s wife Catherine, who has been undergoing cancer treatment and hasn’t been seen much lately.
In September 2022, Naruhito, 64, and the empress, 60, attended the state burial of Queen Elizabeth II. They will also lay a wreath on her tomb at Windsor Castle, west of London.
The meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was not immediately confirmed, given that Britain is now engaged in a general election campaign.
Traditionally, visiting heads of state have addressed parliamentarians or had discussions with the opposition leader and premier.
However, since parliament was dissolved prior to the July 4 election, there are no MPs.
After visiting Indonesia in the previous year, this will be the emperor’s second formal state visit since taking the throne in 2019.
It will be the third state visit that 75-year-old Charles has held since taking the throne when his mother passed away.
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