Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan will visit the UK from June 25-27, 2024, hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace. Although their arrival is on June 22 for private engagements, the state visit will officially commence on June 25. This high-profile diplomatic event will be marked by a state banquet, a military parade, and a carriage procession down The Mall.

The visit coincides with a snap general election on July 4, prompting adjustments to the schedule, though specific changes remain undisclosed. The Prince of Wales will greet the Emperor initially at their hotel before attending a ceremonial welcome at the Royal Pavilion in the presence of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

On June 26, the Emperor will tour The Francis Crick Institute with UK-Japan biomedical research collaborations highlighted. An evening banquet at Guildhall will feature speeches by the Emperor and the Lord Mayor of London. Their final day includes a visit to the Young V&A museum, a private engagement in Oxford, and a trip to Windsor for a wreath-laying ceremony at St George’s Chapel.

This is the first Japanese state visit to the UK since 1998, with a planned 2020 visit postponed due to the pandemic.