Gifts and displays given as Japan's emperor visits Palace

King Charles and Queen Camilla have welcomed Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan to the United Kingdom. The Japanese royals visited Buckingham Palace and presented symbolic gifts to their hosts. Emperor Naruhito gave King Charles a black lacquerware box, while Empress Masako gifted Queen Camilla a brocade handbag. They also presented a framed photograph of themselves. The state visit commenced with a ceremonial greeting at Horse Guards Parade on Tuesday morning. Under the blazing sun, the Japanese visitors observed the guard of honor. The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, dressed in their traditional bearskins, lined up on the parade ground. Earlier in the morning, Prince William had met the Emperor and Empress at their hotel, as Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing repairs. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary David Cameron, and Home Secretary James Cleverly, all dressed in morning suits, were also present for the official welcomes. This event is one of the last ceremonial occasions before the upcoming election. The public was kept away from Horse Guards for this formal diplomatic moment, but ranks of cameras and journalists were present to capture the dignitaries' arrival. Security staff watched from the rooftops of Whitehall. The royal visitors were then transported in carriages past the crowds on the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Queen Camilla shared a carriage with Empress Masako, who wore a mask as a precaution due to her horse hair allergy. The Princess Royal was absent from the visit due to a head injury believed to have been caused by a horse. At Buckingham Palace, the Emperor and Empress were shown Japanese items from the Royal Collection, including an 1855 scroll from Queen Victoria's library depicting the 17th-century coronation of Japan's Emperor Go-Mizunoo. The lacquerware gift from the Emperor to King Charles referenced this year's Noto Peninsula earthquake, as this type of lacquerware is a traditional product of Wajima city, which was affected by the earthquake. State visits are a blend of ancient pageantry and modern international politics, with the red carpet rolled out for important visitors. The visit by the Emperor and Empress aims to reinforce military, scientific, and cultural links between the UK and Japan. It is the first visit by a Japanese head of state since 1998. State visits during a general election are unusual, and in the past, they have been rescheduled to avoid clashing with political campaigns. However, the Japanese royal couple's visit proceeded without the usual visit to meet the prime minister at Downing Street. As the Emperor viewed the objects on display, he was heard saying 'wonderful. ' A centerpiece of this diplomatic flattery is the state banquet, which will be held on Tuesday evening in the lavish ballroom of Buckingham Palace. King Charles will deliver a speech in honor of his guests. Prime Minister Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer will attend the banquet, the night before the two party leaders participate in a debate. The Emperor and Empress's itinerary over the next few days includes visits to Westminster Abbey, the Francis Crick Institute, Kew Gardens, and the Royal College of Music. They will also lay a wreath on Elizabeth II's tomb in St George's Chapel, Windsor. After the state visit concludes, they will make a nostalgic return to their former colleges at Oxford University, where they were both students.