PRINCE William greeted the Emperor and Empress of Japan ahead of tonight’s State Banquet.
But Princess Anne will miss dinner after being rushed to hospital with a head injury following an “impact with a horse”.
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William welcomed Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, to their hotel before escorting them to the Horse Guards Parade.
The prince assumed leadership of the royal family while his wife, Princess Kate, underwent cancer treatment.
Kate, 42, made her public return at Trooping the Color earlier this month but is yet to resume full-time royal duties.
William also supports his father, King Charles, as the monarch also undergoes cancer treatment.
Tonight King Charles and Queen Camilla will entertain their Japanese counterparts at a lavish State Banquet.
This lunchtime, the Emperor and Empress are receiving a ceremonial reception at the Horse Guards Parade.
King Charles formally welcomed his guests before inspecting the Guard of Honor with the Emperor.
The two heads of state shook hands warmly – as did Queen Camilla and the Empress.
They will also take part in a carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace with Queen Camilla and Prince William.
After lunch at the royal residence, guests will visit an exhibition of the Royal Collection in the Picture Gallery.
They will also lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.
Tonight Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will be feted with a lavish state banquet, where Charles and Naruhito will give speeches.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer are expected to take a break from campaigning to attend the state banquet.
The rivals will wear white ties and sit at the horseshoe-shaped table for toasts from Charles and the emperor.
On Thursday, Japanese visitors will privately visit St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle to lay a wreath at the late Queen’s tomb.
It comes after Princess Anne suffered “minor injuries and concussion” at her Gloucestershire home, Gatcombe Park, on Sunday night.
Anne was walking around the property with horses nearby, it is understood.
The exact cause of his injuries has not been confirmed, but they are believed to be consistent with a possible blow to the head or legs of a horse.
Emergency services arrived at the scene and provided medical care to Anne before taking her to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
She remains in hospital for observation, Buckingham Palace said.
Anne’s commitments this week have been canceled and it is understood she will not be able to fly to Canada for a planned trip.
The Japanese Emperor’s love for… Thames Barrier
EMPEROR Naruhito will be the guest of King Charles at a State Banquet this evening.
But the Japanese emperor started his week in the UK by visiting one of his favorite places – the Thames Barrier.
Naruhito studied the history of the Thames as an undergraduate at Oxford University more than 40 years ago.
The Emperor wrote about his love for the river in his memoirs ‘The Thames and I’.
He said he fell in love with ordinary Brits after some strangers rushed to help him when he dropped his wallet in a shop and the coins scattered.
Naruhito also told how he joined a noisy student pub crawl in Oxford, where he was known by the nickname “Hiro”.
The Emperor wrote: “It would be impossible in Japan to go to a place where hardly anyone would know who I was.
“It’s really important and precious to have the opportunity to be able to go privately, at your own pace, wherever you want.”
This week Naruhito visited the Thames Barrier, which had just been opened when he was a student.
In the book he wrote: “Memories of my time on the Thames come back to me.
“The beautiful scenery around me that cured me of the tiredness of research and the days I ran along the river.”
Naruhito will also return to Merton College, where Empress Masako also studied.
In his book, Naruhito told how he was enchanted by the mix between teachers in their dresses and students in punk clothes.
Naruhito wrote: “I didn’t think this was out of the ordinary. It seemed to me that both reflected the spirit of the place.
“After all, this was a country that produced the Beatles and the miniskirt.
“I felt that although the British attach importance to ancient traditions, they also have the ability to innovate.
“I will never forget the moment when the silhouettes of Oxford’s towers, one by one, caught the evening light and seemed to float above the mists.
“This mystical vision, which excited so much admiration, is called the dream towers of Oxford.”
Buckingham Palace said: “His Royal Highness is receiving appropriate specialist care. No additional details are being shared at this time.
“Her Royal Highness will remain at Southmead Hospital unless or until her medical team advises otherwise.
“On the advice of doctors, His Royal Highness’s appointments for next week will be postponed.
“His Royal Highness apologizes to anyone who may be upset or disappointed as a result.
“The State Visit to Japan will proceed as planned, although, unfortunately, His Royal Highness will be unable to attend the State Banquet.”
The princess is expected to make a full recovery and return home later this week.
Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall and son Peter Phillips were at the estate at the time, along with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
King Charles, Queen Camilla, Anne’s brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, and her nephew Prince William were all notified.
The princess was last seen enjoying Ladies Day at Royal Ascot last Thursday.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Everyone in the country is immensely fond of His Royal Highness.”
The PM added: “We all send you our best wishes for a speedy recovery.”
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “I wish His Royal Highness a speedy recovery.
“Sending my best wishes on behalf of all of us in the Labor Party.”
Anne was made of “extremely severe material”, says expert
ROYAL expert Richard Fitzwilliams says Princess Anne will listen to doctors’ advice and miss a week of appointments – but will soon be back.
He said: “I think obviously, and given the fact that she is almost 74, there will clearly be a period where she will need to rest and recover.
“But Princess Anne has an extremely severe posture, which is very reminiscent of her father, Prince Philip.
“I mean he was considered the most impatient patient, and I suspect she will be too.
“She will be dying to get back to work and will find the hospital stay tremendously frustrating.
“She is invaluable to the Royal Family and is someone respected for her work ethic.
“When it comes to Princess Anne, it’s all about dedication, devotion to duty.
“It’s basically the ethics she inherited from her parents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
“There will be a period where obviously she will be encouraged to take it easy, but duty also requires it, and she will be there.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
