Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have arrived in the UK ahead of their state visit. The couple landed at Stansted Airport in Essex on a sunny Saturday afternoon. A Japanese Foreign Ministry official noted that the visit aims to cultivate “friendly relations across generations” between Japan’s imperial family and the British royal family, emphasizing its non-political nature.

The state visit will officially begin on June 25, but Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will first participate in private engagements. On the evening of June 27, a state banquet at Buckingham Palace will be attended by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

The visit comes just before a scheduled TV debate between Sunak and Starmer on June 26, marking the conclusion of the election campaign. Naruhito, who holds the Chrysanthemum Throne, and his wife will spend seven days in the UK.