The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned that the government is making arrangements for the emperor to travel to Britain to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
According to government sources, if health permits, the queen may also attend the funeral.
If completed, the visit will be the emperor's first overseas visit since assuming the throne.
It is highly unusual for an emperor to attend a funeral in a foreign country. The only other occasion was in 1993 when the then Emperor, now Emperor Emeritus, traveled to Belgium to attend the state funeral of King Baudouin, with whom he had a long-standing friendship.
In light of nearly 70 years of interaction between the Queen and the royal family over three generations – Emperor Shua, Emperor Emeritus and the current emperor – the government is also rushing to align other participants.
The Emperor's visit to the UK was originally planned as his first overseas trip after taking the throne after being invited by the Queen. But it was postponed due to the spread of the Corona virus.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Household Agency said on Saturday that the emperor and empress, as well as the emperor emeritus and empress emeritus, will go into three days of mourning until Sunday after the queen's death. The royal couple is said to be deeply saddened by the news of his demise.
