The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun
Emperor, Empress pay respects to queen
LONDON — e Emperor and Empress were among the dignitaries and heads of state and government who attended Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral in London on Monday.
The couple o ered prayers for the queen of the United Kingdom, who built warm relationships with three generations of Japan’s Imperial family over her seven decades on the throne.
The Emperor, 62, in a morning suit, and the Empress, 58, wearing a black jacket over a long black dress, arrived by chartered coach along with royals from other countries at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral.
The night before, the Emperor paid his respects before the co n of the queen lying in state at Westminster Hall. He thanked the queen for her warmth and consideration, and quietly bade her farewell, according to a close aide.
The friendship between the queen and the Imperial family spanned 70 years.
The Emperor Emeritus, then a 19-year-old crown prince, attended the queen’s coronation ceremony held in June 1953 at Westminster Abbey and congratulated her from his frontrow seat.
In October 1971, Emperor Showa visited the United Kingdom for the rst time as an emperor and laid owers at the grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey. At a dinner that night, the queen reportedly touched on World War II, saying, “We cannot pretend that the past did not exist,” as she proposed a toast to the health of Emperor Showa.
In return, Emperor Showa expressed gratitude for the guidance he received from the queen’s grandfather King George V (1865-1936) and conveyed his wish to join in efforts with the United Kingdom to preserve tranquility in the world.
The current Emperor was warmly received by Queen Elizabeth like a family member while he was a college student in England from 1983 to 1985.
The queen and her husband, Prince Philip, invited him to Scotland, and he spent several days at Balmoral Castle, enjoying a barbeque and picnic on the estate and riding in a car driven by the royal couple, according to his aides.
Philip Corcos, 72, who taught English to the Emperor for three months while he was studying in England, expressed his appreciation that the Imperial couple attended the queen’s state funeral, saying the Emperor respected Queen Elizabeth very much.
(Published in print on Sept. 21)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The Emperor and Empress departed Haneda Airport in Tokyo for Britain aboard a government plane on Saturday to attend the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II.
It is the first time for the Imperial couple to visit another country since the Emperor ascended to the throne.
At 10:15 a.m., the Imperial couple was seen o by their 20-yearold daughter Princess Aiko at the entrance of their living quarters at the Imperial Palace, where the Emperor told her, “O I go.”
At the airport, the Emperor and Empress bowed in gratitude toward Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, who saw them o , and others, and then departed the airport shortly a er 11 a.m.
This is the Emperor’s first overseas trip since 2018, when he visited France. For the Empress, this is her first overseas trip since 2015, when she visited Tonga. (Sept. 18)
RETURNS ON TUESDAY
The Emperor and Empress arrived at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Tuesday on a government plane, returning from their visit to the United Kingdom to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Imperial couple disembarked at around 7:50 p.m. amid pouring rain. ey were driven to a VIP room where they were greeted by and conversed with Crown Prince Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko, British Ambassador Julia Longbottom and her husband, among others. (Sept. 22)