Empress MasakoThe jewels at tonight's official banquet at Buckingham Palace did not disappoint.
The Empress of Japan chose the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara for the occasion, wearing a diamond headpiece for the first time, pairing it with a sparkling white dress and diamond necklace. The Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara is a tiara worn only by the Empress, and features a chrysanthemum flower design. State banquets are a formal affair, with a white-tie dress code requiring ball gowns and tiaras for royal ladies in attendance.
Earlier today, Prince William welcomed the Emperor and Queen, accompanying them on Horse Guards Parade. For the first day of the state visit, Empress Masako chose a beautiful white lace coat dress, along with Queen Camilla, who also chose a white dress for the occasion.
The royal couple also visited Westminster Abbey in the afternoon, where Masako changed into a white skirt suit with navy piping:
While the official state visit begins today, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived in the UK over the weekend. The couple's state visit was initially scheduled for spring 2020, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. In September 2022, the emperor and empress traveled to the UK for Queen Elizabeth's state funeral, marking their first overseas trip since Naruhito's enthronement ceremony in 2019.
Both Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have ties to Britain. In fact, both graduated from Oxford University—Naruhito studied at Merton College from 1983 to 1985, and Masako studied international relations at Balliol College from 1988 to 1990. Later this week, the royal couple will return to Oxford for a private program of engagements, visiting the colleges where they studied.
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