THE PRINCESS OF WALES, ESCORTED BY EMPEROR NARUHITO IN 1990

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A state visit always inspires a grand level of splendour and pageantry, with tiaras donned and banquets held, lavish presents given and ceremonial parades staged. But this week, as Japan’s Emperor Naruhito is welcomed to the UK along with his wife, Empress Masako, it will be not just a formal occasion – but a chance for the head of state to reignite his long-held relationship with Britain and its royal family.

Naruhito’s ties to the UK go back as far as 1984 when, in his early twenties, he undertook a three-month intensive English course before attending Merton College, Oxford as a postgraduate – the first time anyone in direct succession to the throne had studied outside Japan. A history student, his particular interest lay in transport, a passion ignited while roaming the palace grounds as a child, where he discovered the remains of an ancient roadway.

‘I have had a keen interest in roads since childhood,’ he once said at a press conference. ‘On roads, you can go to the unknown world. Since I have been leading a life where I have few chances to go out freely, roads are a precious bridge to the unknown world, so to speak.’ While in Britain, he took a particular fancy to the Thames, on which he wrote his thesis, which he later revisited in his book, The Thames And I – A Memoir Of Two Years at Oxford.

NARUHITO WITH THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY DURING TROOPING THE COLOUR IN 1985

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Despite his status as the grandson of the then-Emperor Hirohito, Naruhito threw himself into the usual student pastimes, playing inter-college tennis, joining Merton’s drama society and becoming the honorary president of the karate and judo clubs. He even dabbled in the odd pub crawl, visiting some 21 Oxford pubs (where he discovered beer) and trying his hand at clubbing – although he was banned from entering a disco because he was wearing jeans.

Oxford holds particularly fond memories for Naruhito, as it is where he met his now-wife, Masako, in 1986 (she was later a student at Balliol College, studying international relations between 1988 and 1990). He and Masako are said to have developed a love of the historic city – particularly Christ Church Meadow – during their time there.

PRINCE CHARLES OF WALES LOOKS AT THE SIGNATURE BEING WRITTEN BY JAPAN’S PRINCE NARUHITO, ON MAY 13, 1987 AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL IN TOKYO

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Another aspect of Britain that made a lasting impression on Naruhito was his introduction to the royal family, whom, according to MailOnline, he has described as treating him with ‘heartwarming hospitality’. He attended the state opening of parliament with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip and was later invited to tea at Buckingham Palace with the Queen, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. He was said to be amazed by the relatively relaxed family, noting that the Queen poured her own tea and served the sandwiches.

The royal to whom Naruhito became closest, however, was undoubtedly King Charles. The two often socialised together and once attended an opera with Princess Diana. In the summer of 1984, Queen Elizabeth invited Naruhito to Balmoral, which he recently described as a ‘cherished and nostalgic’ memory. ‘The Queen drove me around and invited me to a barbecue at a building in the grounds and Prince Philip personally guided me around the grounds in a horse-drawn carriage,’ he said. It was in Scotland where Charles taught him how to fish with a fly; at a press conference earlier this year, the Emperor remembered the occasion fondly, saying: ‘We saw big fish jumping nearby, but neither of us caught anything!’

CHARLES WITH NARUHITO; THE TWO ARE SO CLOSE THAT THE KING WROTE THE FOREWORD FOR THE EMPEROR’S MEMOIR

 

The friendship between Charles and Naruhito was so firm, that the King even wrote the foreword to Naruhito’s memoir, describing him as possessing ‘a keen eye, a delicate sense of humour, an enviable desire to be involved in a wide variety of activities and a power of description which gives the reader interest and enjoyment’.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND PRINCE PHILIP WITH NARUHITO

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It is perhaps unsurprising that Charles and Naruhito formed such a close bond, as the two share some striking similarities. Japan’s monarchy, just like Britain’s, has faced a fair amount of turmoil in recent years and is now adjusting to running as a slimmed-down firm. Like Charles, Naruhito is facing a shortage of working royals: in 2021, his brother and heir Fumito’s daughter, Mako, lost her title when she married a commoner, drawing comparisons to Meghan and Harry giving up their royal duties for a life in California.

From reminiscing about old times, to discussing the trials of leading their respective monarchies into the future, it’s certain that these old friends and comrades will have plenty to talk about during this week’s visit – which can only strengthen the time-honoured bond between both them and their countries.