News about Empress Masako

It is a beneficiary of massive inward investment as big international companies shift their manufacturing bases southwards out of China and into North Vietnam. Without breaking the bank, the Government is also heavily investing in the country's infrastructure - while greater urbanisation is creating a burgeoning middle class with money to spend. The population (100 million) is also young with an average age of 33, so it has no millstone like the NHS around its neck. Put all this in a pot and you have an economic environment ideal for companies to thrive and make money for shareholders. Furthermore, with the country heading towards emerging markets status (it's classified as a frontiers trust), interest in the stock market, especially from foreign investors, should rise.

Emperor Naruhito, 64, was welcomed by chancellor Chris Patten and a hoard of waiting fans at Balliol College in Oxford University. It was here in 1984 where he first forged a bond with King Charles and would go on to spend days at the Royal Family 's Highland retreat. The Emperor - once dubbed a 'reluctant royal' among the Japanese elite - attended the event with his wife Empress Masako of Japan, 60, as part of their grand state visit to the UK. (Pictured: The Emperor and Empress of Japan visit Oxford university; inset: Adoring fans await them)

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh looked pretty in pastel as she attended a seminar during a visit to the Groundswell Agricultural Festival Show on Thursday. The 59-year-old royal stepped out in the perfect summer frock as she attended the festival at Lannock Manor Farm in Hitchin on Thursday. The mother of two looked the perfect English rose in her ankle length dress which featured long sleeves and a long flowing skirt, worn with a cream blazer and her soft blonde hair swept into a laidback bun. Sophie serves as Honorary President of the charity LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming), where she supports their aims of sustainable food production and to teach young people with where British food comes from.

The King and Queen bid an affectionate farewell to the Emperor and Empress of Japan at Buckingham Palace this morning on the final day of the official State Visit programme. Their Majesties shook the hands of the British and Japanese delegations inside the 1844 room before walking to the Grand Entrance to say their final goodbyes. King Charles and Emperor Naruhito shook hands (inset), and embraced Empress Masako (left) before Charles and Camilla waved farewell (right).

The Emperor of Japan attended the banquet at the London music conservatoire on the second night of his state visit to the UK - but it was a solo appearance. The Empress, who has previously been dubbed a 'reluctant royal' among the Japanese elite, did not attend the dinner as she has taken some time to rest.

Emperor Naruhito (pictured inset, today) exited Japan House and waved at crowds of people who waited to catch a glimpse of him on Sunday, ahead of their official engagements (pictured left and right). Naruhito looked dapper in a grey suit, crisp white shirt and tie as he stepped out in central London without his wife, Empress Masako (pictured bottom inset) The emperor looked in high spirits as he paused to wave at the array of people before swiftly being ushered into a car as traffic on the busy Kensington street stood at a standstill.

After a hectic first day of royal engagements in the UK, including a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, Empress Masako is set to take some time out. Though she has stepped up her role since her husband Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne in 2019, Masako is known to still suffer with ill-health - the product of a difficult and complicated relationship with royal life. Masako is pictured yesterday, and is not expected to attend royal engagements today.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, 59, appeared to pay a touching nod to her nephew's wife Kate Middleton, who is currently undergoing treatment following a cancer diagnosis, and was the last one to wear it for a 2022 Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace. The Princess of Wales also sported it in 2015, at her first state banquet to welcome the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan.

King Charles and Queen Camilla posed for photos with Japan's Emperor and Empress ahead of the state banquet this evening. The King and Queen were wearing full royal regalia as they welcomed Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako. The four royals stood for pictures before the white tie state dinner, which is also to be attended by prominent politicians. Charles was wearing his collection of medals, while Camilla wore the King's new 'Family Order' badge for the first time complete with an all white dress and a blue band.

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his wife toured Westminster Abbey as part of their three-day state visit to London today. The royal couple met the Dean of Westminster, David Hoyle, who showed Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako around the historic church. The pair bowed at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior - a grave containing the body of an unknown British soldier who fell during the First World War. Earlier today, the King and Queen showed the couple a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection relating to the country today, including a book written by Emperor Naruhito over 30 years ago.

Emperor Naruhito of Japan and his wife Empress Masako have this week touched down in the UK for a glamorous royal state visit - but why has she been so rarely seen over the years?

The Emperor and Empress of Japan received a glittering ceremonial welcome of military pomp and pageantry in London today as their long-awaited state visit began. King Charles III and Queen Camilla greeted their guests on Horse Guards Parade where some of the nation's most prestigious regiments were on display. The two heads of state warmly shook hands as did their wives under a large purpose-built pavilion that shielded them from the blistering summer sun amid 27C (81F) temperatures. Prince William had escorted the Emperor and Empress from their overnight hotel in the capital, arriving almost ten minutes late in chauffeur driven cars. But his wife the Princess of Wales, who returned briefly to the spotlight at Trooping the Colour on June 15 despite her cancer treatment, is not expected to take part in the visit this week. At the end of the welcome ceremony today, there was a traditional carriage procession to Buckingham Palace where a private lunch was held. The two heads of state sat together in the lead coach, followed by Camilla and the Empress who has a chronic allergy to horse hair and therefore wore a white face mask as a precaution. Missing from the state visit is Princess Anne, who remains in hospital today after suffering minor head injuries and concussion after she was reportedly kicked by a horse on her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire on Sunday.

Emperor Naruhito of Japan and his wife Empress Masako have this week touched down in the UK for a glamorous royal state visit - but why has she been so rarely seen over the years? Pictured left to right: Naruhito and Masako's wedding in 1993; meeting Princess Diana in 1995; Masako attending a ritual in 2019. Pictured inset is Masako welcoming the couple's only daughter, Princess Aiko - but she cannot inherit the throne due to Japan's strict primogeniture laws.

As Japan's first piece of Western-made jewellery, the the Meiji Tiara (right, being worn by Empress Masako during her husband's enthronement parade in 2019) could well get an outing this week. Because on Saturday, Emperor Naruhito of Japan and his wife Empress Masako arrived in Britain for a state visit that formally begins today. And although Empress Masako came wearing a pearl necklace and similar earrings, she has a host of imperial jewels that she could call on for the upcoming State Banquet. As well as the Meiji Tiara, there is the Pearl Sunburst Parure (left, being worn by Empress Masako in 2014) and a host of other majestic jewels. What will have definitely stayed at home are the Imperial Regalia, which are perhaps the most mysterious royal jewels in the world.

Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako touched down in the UK for a long-awaited official state visit on Friday- however the monarch regretted that they could not make the trip while Queen Elizabeth was alive. The Japanese Emporer, 64, who ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019, and his wife, 60, will spend seven days carrying out private engagements with King Charles and Queen Camilla . However the trip is bittersweet as Naruhito never got the chance to say goodbye to Queen Elizabeth, who passed away 8 September 2022, after Covid stopped his planned 2020 state visit.

Emperor Naruhito, 64, and his wife, 60, looked refreshed after their long flight from Tokyo as they landed in bright sunshine on Saturday afternoon. The pair, who attended the Queen's funeral in 2022, had originally been scheduled to take part in a state visit in 2020, but missed their chance to reunite with the late Queen when Covid stopped international travel. (Pictured: Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako and his wife arriving on Saturday from Tokyo)

Japan's strict laws of succession forbid women from ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne and force them to give up their titles if they marry commoners. Meanwhile, many of the royal family are ageing - with eight members over 60, while only four members of the family are male. Speaking ahead of a state visit to Britain next week with his wife Empress Masako, Emperor Naruhito, 64, made a rare comment about the crisis facing the imperial household.

The niece of Emperor Naruhito (pictured), 29, arrived in Athens on Sunday, where she is currently undergoing an official visit to celebrate diplomatic ties between the two countries. Princess Kako's visit is also in honour of the 2024 Japan-Greece Year of Culture and Tourism, aiming to bring the people of Japan and Greece closer together through travel.

Princess Aiko, the 22-year-old daughter of Japan's Emperor Naruhito, faces a life wedded to public duty and, as current ancient laws stand, she'll never be able to take to the country's Chrysanthemum Throne. In 2021, her cousin, Princess Mako, 32, staged a Megxit-style departure from such a life, wedding commoner Kei Komuro and swapping Japan's Imperial dynasty for a life in New York. There is currently just one young heir to the throne: the Emperor's nephew Prince Hisahito. (Pictured from left: Princess Mako, who left the monarchy in 2021 after wedding commoner Kei Komuro. Right: Princess Aiko, Inset top: current Emperor Naruhito, with Princess Aiko and his wife Empress Masako. Inset bottom: Prince Hisahito)

Buckingham Palace announced on Friday that doctors were sufficiently pleased with the 75-year-old king's response to treatment for the unspecified form of cancer. The monarch will be able to resume some public-facing engagements, the first of these being Tuesday's visit to a cancer treatment centre to meet patients and medical specialists. The Palace has also announced Charles and his wife Queen Camilla will host a state visit by the Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako in late June.

@kunaicho_jp, who goes by the name Imperial Household Agency, has more than 185,000 followers and 19 posts on Monday, and has already posted more than 19 photos. The ancient Japanese monarchy made a cautious appearance on the site, mainly using professional photos that are already in the public domain, with the first photo capturing Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and Princess Aiko's New Year's Eve portraits (left). Princess Aiko died last month, to be precise.

On New Year's Day, the Japanese royal (left) expressed his grief for those who lost their lives in the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that killed 241 people and left more than 12,000 people dead in their homes. 'I would like to convey my sincere condolences to those who lost their lives in the Noto Peninsula earthquake last month and those affected by the tragedy,' he said. "I wish every one of you a peaceful spring.' Top right: Corona Prince Akishino, Crown Prince Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko, and Princess Kako are among those who have been photographed top right. Empress Masako and Princess Aiko, bottom right.

On Wednesday, Crown Prince Akishino, 57,'s wife, had an endoscopy at a Tokyo hospital, but no abnormalities were found, according to reports. According to The Mainichi, Kiko has been suffering from an unknown disease since last year. The royal has been plagued by severe digestive problems that have left her unable to eat traditional meals.

According to The Mainichi, the Imperial Household Agency reported that the royal mother-of-two (pictured left) has been sick since last year. Since the Princess tested negative for the virus and influenza, doctors have ruled out Covid-19 as the cause of Kiko's illness. Given that Kiko's illness is still unclear, medical professionals are currently doing experiments to find a comprehensive answer. (Crown Princess Kiko is pictured with Crown Prince Akisho on the right)