Japan's Crown Prince to Attend Coronation

Crown Prince and Princess Akishino to attend coronation of King Charles III

 

Japan's Crown Prince and Princess Akishino will visit Britain next month to attend the coronation ceremony of King Charles III on behalf of the Emperor.

 

The Imperial couple's four-day visit to Britain was approved during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

 

Crown Prince and Princess Akishino will leave Japan on May 4 and arrive in London on the same day.

 

The two are expected to attend a reception hosted by the King at Buckingham Palace on May 5.

 

They will attend the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey on May 6 and return to Japan the following day. It will be the couple's first official visit to Britain.

 

Japan's Imperial Household Agency says the British royal family sent Emperor Naruhito an invitation to the event.

 

Japan's Imperial family and the British royal family are close.

 

In 1953, when Emperor Emeritus Akihito was the crown prince, he attended the coronation ceremony for Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of his father.

 

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the Queen's state funeral last September.

 

(Press release from Keith M Dunn OBE, Honorary Consul for Japan in Wales)