AFP — A guard of honour and a lavish banquet awaited Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako in London on Tuesday as King Charles III was set to receive them at the start of a three-day state visit to Britain.
The couple, who arrived on Saturday and held informal engagements over the weekend, were to be met by the British monarch and Queen Camilla on Horse Guards Parade in central London at around noon.
The three days of pomp and pageantry will begin with royal salutes, the firing of guns and the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, while Naruhito, 64, and Charles, 75, will inspect the guard of honour.
The royals will then travel the short distance to Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession.
