Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have had dinner with the Belgian royal family at a castle in southern Belgium.
The Emperor and Empress arrived in Belgium on Saturday after completing their state visit to the Netherlands.
Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde invited the Emperor and Empress to the Castle of Ciergnon, which the Belgian royal family uses as a retreat. The Japanese Imperial couple is expected to stay there until Monday.
On Sunday afternoon, media crews were allowed to take pictures of the Imperial couple along with King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and their four children, including Princess Elisabeth, first in line to the throne.
Japan’s Imperial family and Belgium’s royal family have enjoyed close ties for many years.
Then Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako made an official visit to Belgium in 1999 to attend the wedding of then Crown Prince Philippe. The Belgian royal couple visited Japan as state guests in 2016. Then Crown Prince and the King jogged together at the Akasaka Estate in central Tokyo.
Japan’s Imperial Household Agency says that the Emperor and Empress had dinner with the King and Queen as well as their children at the castle’s garden, enjoying the scenery.
The Emperor and Empress are scheduled to move to the Belgian capital Brussels on Monday, and attend, as state guests, a welcome ceremony and a banquet hosted by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde the next day.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www3.nhk.or.jp ’
