Emperor of Japan visits Westminster Abbey

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, led prayers at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior and the Emperor laid a wreath in honour of the fallen of the two World Wars and more recent conflicts.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were then escorted by the Dean on a tour of the Abbey. They were shown the graves of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Professor Stephen Hawking, the High Altar, Poets’ Corner and the burial place of George Frederic Handel.

Following the tour, the Emperor and Empress signed the Abbey's Distinguished Visitors' Book.

The Emperor last visited the Abbey in September 2022 when he attended the State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II . He was represented at last year’s Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen by Crown Prince Akishino.

The last Japanese State Visit to the UK was made in 1998 by Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko.