Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan begin a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom.
They will receive a ceremonial reception and carriage ride around the Mall, with an official banquet hosted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.
But because of the general election campaign, the Japanese royal couple will not be traveling to Downing Street.
The Princess Royal will also be absent from the state banquet, after being admitted to the hospital following a head injury believed to have been caused by a horse.
Royal greeting
State visits are a mix of ancient pageantry and modern international politics, with the red carpet being rolled out for important visitors.
The visit by the Emperor and Empress aims to strengthen military, scientific and cultural ties between the United Kingdom and Japan.
It is the first by a Japanese head of state since 1998 and will begin with a formal royal salute on the Horse Guards Parade and then a procession to Buckingham Palace.
State visits during general elections are unusual – in the past they have been rescheduled to avoid a conflict with the political campaign.
But the Japanese visit continued, without the usual meeting with the prime minister at number 10 Downing Street.
A centerpiece of this diplomatic blandishment is the state banquet in the luxurious setting of Buckingham Palace’s ballroom.
The King will toast his visitors at such events, often in their own language, and give a speech in honor of his guests.
The emperor will then respond.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labor leader Keir Starmer will be at the state banquet on Tuesday night in one of the last formal occasions before next week’s election.
Nostalgic return
The following night, the two party leaders are in a face-to-face debate on TV.
The Emperor and Empress’ program of visits over the next few days will include Westminster Abbey, the Francis Crick Institute, Kew Gardens and the Royal College of Music.
They will lay a wreath at Elizabeth II’s tomb in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
And on Friday, after the state visit ends, they will make a nostalgic return to their old colleges at Oxford University, where they were both students.
