Meetings with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace marked the start of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s formal tour to Japan this week.
Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko also welcomed the royal pair, who were there on behalf of King Charles III.
Their visit highlights the long-standing relationship between the Japanese and British royal families.
During the late Queen Elizabeth II’s 1975 state visit, the duke and duchess joined the imperial family in the gardens of the Akasaka Residence to plant an oak sapling that was grown from a tree she had planted as a sign of friendship.
Notably, September 19 was also the date of the late queen’s funeral.
