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

[muriel]

So far there has been no announcement from either court.

Normally incoming British State Visits are announced at the State Opening of Parliament which is set for 7th November.

With the postponed French State Visit also to be rescheduled I suspect that Japan may be on the back burner, especially if the rumour that Charles wants to make a large Commonwealth tour next year is true.

In QE2's reign, the pattern used to be an outgoing state visit and an incoming one in the Autumn, and the same in the spring. So I suspect both France (outgoing) and Japan, or any other country (incoming) can be accomoated this spring.

As regards Commonwealth, I expect there will be one trip to Aus & NZ and another to Canada in the not too distant future.

 

[Prisma]

Japanese media report planning is underway for the UK state visit in late June. Possibly June 22-29

Japan imperial couple state visit to Britain planned for June - Kyodo News

Preparations between the British and Japanese governments are proceeding with consideration for the king's health. Buckingham Palace said in February that Charles has been diagnosed with cancer and advised to postpone public-facing duties while he undergoes treatment.

Emperor, Empress to Make State Visit to U.K. on Invitation of King Charles; Their Second Overseas Goodwill Trip - The Japan News

According to sources familiar with the matter, the Imperial couple will leave Japan on June 22 for London. In addition to attending the welcoming ceremony and banquet at Buckingham Palace, the Emperor and Empress will attend a luncheon with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, a dinner hosted by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and other occasions.

On the sideline of official events, the two governments are arraigning that the Imperial couple will attend a gathering of people who have contributed to the friendly relations between the two countries and will inspect a facility regarding transportation on the Thames River, a theme that the Emperor researched while he was studying in the United Kingdom for two years from 1983.

On the final day of the visit, the Imperial couple will visit the University of Oxford. One idea that has surfaced is that the two will tour sites connected to their memories as they visit the university’s Merton College, were the Emperor studied, and Balliol College, where the Empress studied, before heading to the airport to leave for Japan. The two are scheduled to return to Japan on June 29.

NTV also mentions visiting Queen Elizabeth II's tomb.

 

[Blog Real]

It's a good new. I am looking forward to this visit.

 

[doro]

Japanese media report planning is underway for the UK state visit in late June. Possibly June 22-29

Japan imperial couple state visit to Britain planned for June - Kyodo News


Emperor, Empress to Make State Visit to U.K. on Invitation of King Charles; Their Second Overseas Goodwill Trip - The Japan News


NTV also mentions visiting Queen Elizabeth II's tomb.

Hoping to become truth!

 

[wbenson]

The state visit is confirmed for June.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1783904181163614445

 

[Blog Real]

It's excellent news. I'm looking forward to this visit.

 

[Stefan]

Good News. Finally this State Visit is taking place

 

[W.Y.CII]

Finally! Great!

 

[Prinsara]

It's a reschedule, but how does this work protocol-wise since Charles is the newer monarch and hasn't been to Japan while reigning?

 

[Blog Real]

Today it was announced that the state visit will take place at the late in June.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1784131881958621479

 

[Tatiana Maria]

It's a reschedule, but how does this work protocol-wise since Charles is the newer monarch and hasn't been to Japan while reigning?

I wonder if the British king's cancer treatment is taking priority over protocol.

 

[Prinsara]

I wonder if the British king's cancer treatment is taking priority over protocol.

Then it seems slightly odd to be prioritizing his treatment by adding the stress of a state visit in-between rounds of whatever is medically necessary for his health, since we know it's not complete.

If you mean the king having cancer has changed the protocol, at least for the moment, it might be a possibility.

 

[Stefan]

Then it seems slightly odd to be prioritizing his treatment by adding the stress of a state visit in-between rounds of whatever is medically necessary for his health, since we know it's not complete.

If you mean the king having cancer has changed the protocol, at least for the moment, it might be a possibility.

I think that the Emperor makes a State visit to the UK as opposed to the King paying a State visit to Japan is because the original Invitation was from the late Queen, and the State visit was not cancelled but rather postponed.

 

[Somebody]

To me it seems more likely that it is because of the postponement that they are visiting even though Charles ascended the throne more recently. They were supposed to visit queen Elizabeth who clearly had been reigning much longer than the emperor.

 

[wbenson]

Does the UK even observe that protocol? Just from eyeballing the list, it looks like Elizabeth II received the longer-reigning monarchs of Sweden, Ethiopia, Iraq, Iran, Belgium, Greece, Thailand, Nepal, Japan, and Afghanistan before she'd visited those monarchs (and in the case of Greece, Iraq, and Afghanistan never did).

 

[Prinsara]

Does the UK even observe that protocol? Just from eyeballing the list, it looks like Elizabeth II received the longer-reigning monarchs of Sweden, Ethiopia, Iraq, Iran, Belgium, Greece, Thailand, Nepal, Japan, and Afghanistan before she'd visited those monarchs (and in the case of Greece, Iraq, and Afghanistan never did).

When was the last of those visits? Perhaps the protocol solidified in the interval.

 

[muriel]

Does the UK even observe that protocol? Just from eyeballing the list, it looks like Elizabeth II received the longer-reigning monarchs of Sweden, Ethiopia, Iraq, Iran, Belgium, Greece, Thailand, Nepal, Japan, and Afghanistan before she'd visited those monarchs (and in the case of Greece, Iraq, and Afghanistan never did).

I think you are correct, this is not a protocol the UK tends to follow.

I also think, despite having just ascended the throne, Charles is seen as quite the senior royal amongst some of his peers (Felipe, W-A, Fred, Naruhito...)

 

[W.Y.CII]

I guess it'd be the better thread to discuss this......from the tiara guessing thread:

We don't quite know if Queen Camilla will receive a Japanese order, as the UK tends not to give out orders to consorts, and by reciprocal arrangement, UK consorts ought to not receive any.

While it's true that UK normally not gives order to visiting consorts, Japan seems not affected and having a reciprocal arrangement on giving out theirs order. Nagako didn't receive any order from the British back in 1975, only Hirohito received (precisely "re-received") the Garter, but they're still quite generous: Philip and Charles received the highest order, while Anne and Margaret also got the lower one.
Philip, Charles and Margaret
Anne behind Nagako
(Interesting though seems she didn't wear it in the Japan state visit by Akihito in 1998 [I think she's in the back on left].)

However it could tell nothing as they're the former-monarch and former-former-monarch, maybe Naruhito and Charles would do it completely different...maybe Charles will give order to Masako while Naruhito give out nothing, who knows! After all it's both Naruhito's and Charles' first monarch-monarch state visit.

 

[wbenson]

There's now going to be a general election in July. I wonder if that means another postponement, as happened to the Spanish visit in 2017.

 

[GondorHasNoPants]

There's now going to be a general election in July. I wonder if that means another postponement, as happened to the Spanish visit in 2017.

I just saw the speculation about that. I will feel sorry for everyone involved if it is - to have it cancelled again, at such short notice. That would be extremely frustrating.

 

[Stefan]

There's now going to be a general election in July. I wonder if that means another postponement, as happened to the Spanish visit in 2017.

Wonder if the will again postpone it, after it has already been postponed in 2020, Perhaps the could simply plan it for July so after the elections.

 

[doro]

Hopefully it will happen in October/November

 

[Iluvbertie]

All the royal engagements that may be missed

Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King has cancelled his public engagements for the rest of the week.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I know this is the DM but I thought it was relevant and highly likely to be correct at this time:

Next month's high-profile Japanese State Visit - which has major trade and diplomatic implications - has yet to be confirmed, however. A decision will be made by the Foreign Office in due course.

One reason why this may be delayed again is because it has 'major trade and diplomatic implications'. Hard for the Tory government to make trade deals etc as a result of this visit if they then lose the election a week or so later and Labour doesn't agree with those deals.

 

[muriel]

There's now going to be a general election in July. I wonder if that means another postponement, as happened to the Spanish visit in 2017.

I think the 2017 precedent is the right one, and the state visit will probably be rescheduled.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I think the 2017 precedent is the right one, and the state visit will probably be rescheduled.

Alas a shame, but I was expecting it to be postponed pending another rescheduled date!

 

[Stefan]

All the royal engagements that may be missed

Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King has cancelled his public engagements for the rest of the week.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I know this is the DM but I thought it was relevant and highly likely to be correct at this time:

Next month's high-profile Japanese State Visit - which has major trade and diplomatic implications - has yet to be confirmed, however. A decision will be made by the Foreign Office in due course.

One reason why this may be delayed again is because it has 'major trade and diplomatic implications'. Hard for the Tory government to make trade deals etc as a result of this visit if they then lose the election a week or so later and Labour doesn't agree with those deals.

But then would it be diplomatic correct to postpone again on so short notice?

 

[muriel]

But then would it be diplomatic correct to postpone again on so short notice?

Yes, IMO, its fine. All governments understand that its slightly pointless to host a state visit a week before an election.

This is not like Trump cancelling his state visit to Denmark at the last minute when he was told the Danish government had no interest in selling Greenland to him.

 

[Iluvbertie]

But then would it be diplomatic correct to postpone again on so short notice?

Yes. Better to postpone and actually be able to do some work by those accompanying the Emperor than have the visit simply as a show but no actual work able to be done. Remember that within a week or so it is highly probable that a new government will be in office with a different philosophy on many issues so no point in making deals that will only have to be done again in 10 days or so time anyway.

 

[Prisma]

Japanese state visit to UK not stopped by general election - BBC News

[...] The visit, from 25 to 27 June, will include traditional highlights such as a state banquet hosted by the King and a carriage parade along the Mall.

It will be the first state visit in modern times to take place during an election campaign. [...] Buckingham Palace indicated the visit would be "adapted" because of the general election, but no specific changes have been revealed.

[...]

During their time in the UK, the Japanese emperor royals will visit the Francis Crick Institute, a Young Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition about Japan and the world's largest collection of wild plant seeds at Kew Gardens.

There will be a visit to St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, to lay a wreath at the burial place of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The Japanese Cabinet approved the state visit for June 22-29:

• June 22: depart from Haneda and arrive same day, afternoon local time
• June 23-24: Emperor Naruhito will tour Japan-related exhibits and facilities to prevent flood disasters
• June 25: welcome ceremony, luncheon hosted by the King, a floral tribute to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey, and state banquet at Buckingham Palace. Empress Masako is expected to attend all these events, considering her physical condition.
• June 26: Emperor Naruhito will visit Francis Crick Institute and attend dinner hosted by London's mayor
• June 27: farewell to King Charles and Queen Camilla, visit a children's museum, Emperor Naruhito will visit St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle to lay wreath for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
• June 28: Oxford and depart for Japan
• June 29: return to Japan in afternoon

Sources: Sankei, Jiji, TBS

More details:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1797765456134353097

 

[Somebody]

A bit of a uncommon program in that the emperor will arrive a few days earlier undertaking various engagements and continues to undertake various engagements after the state visits officially ends. Nonetheless, glad to hear that the state visit that was already postponed isn't postponed once more.