By AKIKO TADA/ Staff Writer
September 20, 2022 at 15:52 JST
Emperor Naruhito and Empress, Masako sign a book of condolence at Church House in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 19. (Pool photo via AP)
LONDON--Empress Masako visited Britain along with Emperor Naruhito to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey here on Sept. 19.
It was her first visit to a foreign country since July 2015, when she went to Tonga as crown princess.
Her visit was hastily decided upon following the death of the queen on Sept. 8.
It was expected that the four-day trip--including flights to and from Britain taking around 15 hours each way--would put a great strain on Masako, who has long been under medical treatment since being diagnosed with an adjustment disorder many years ago.
Masako politely greeted people on duty when she landed at Stanstead Airport in the London suburbs on a government plane on Sept. 17.
She waved to people when she arrived at the hotel.
Prior to the state funeral, her aide said Masako tried to take care of herself through careful planning, as she does for other public duties, so she could attend the state funeral.
That means she didn’t attend a reception King Charles III organized at Buckingham Palace on Sept. 18, the day before the state funeral.
“(Masako) took a break that day (Sept. 18) to manage her health to ensure she could absolutely attend (the state funeral in good condition),” her aide said.
She also didn’t visit the queen’s coffin lying in state at Westminster Hall in London. Naruhito attended the reception and visited the queen's coffin.
Naruhito wore a morning suit with a black tie, while Masako donned a black dress with a black hat when they left their hotel in London to attend the state funeral on Sept. 19.
Although they wore black facemasks when departing the hotel, they were both maskless at the abbey.
Masako has some connection with Britain.
Before her marriage, she studied at Balliol College of Oxford University from July 1988 to June 1990.
Queen Elizabeth II had invited her and Naruhito to visit Britain before the novel coronavirus pandemic.
They were scheduled to go to Britain and meet her in 2020 in their first visit to a foreign country after they became emperor and empress, but the pandemic forced them to postpone the trip.
Masako was truly appreciative of the queen’s invitation, according to her aide.
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