Wills greets Emperor & Empress of Japan before State Banquet without Anne – as she remains in hospital with head injury
PRINCE William has greeted the Emperor and Empress of Japan ahead of tonight’s State Banquet.
But Princess Anne will miss the dinner after she was rushed to hospital with a head injury following an “impact with a horse”.
William welcomed Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako at their hotel before accompanying them to Horse Guards Parade.
The prince has stepped up to lead the royal family while his wife Princess Kate undergoes treatment for cancer.
Kate, 42, made her public comeback at Trooping the Colour earlier this month but will not yet resume full-time royal duties.
William is also supporting his father King Charles while the monarch also undergoes cancer treatment.
Tonight King Charles and Queen Camilla will entertain their Japanese counterparts at a lavish State Banquet.
This lunchtime Emperor and Empress are being given a ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade.
King Charles has formally welcomed his guests before he inspects the Guard of Honour with the Emperor.
The two heads of state warmly shook hands – as did Queen Camilla and the Empress.
They will also take part in a carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace with Queen Camilla and Prince William.
After lunch at the royal residence, the guests will tour a Royal Collection exhibition in the Picture Gallery.
They will also lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.
Tonight Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will be feted with a lavish state banquet, where Charles and Naruhito will give speeches.
PM Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer are expected to take a break from the campaign trail to attend the state banquet.
The rivals will don white tie and take their seats around the horseshoe-shaped table to toasts by Charles and the emperor.
On Thursday, the Japanese visitors will privately visit St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle to lay a wreath on the tomb of the late Queen.
It comes after Princess Anne suffered “minor injuries and concussion” at her Gloucestershire home Gatcombe Park on Sunday evening.
Anne was walking around the estate with horses in the vicinity, it’s understood.
The exact cause of her injuries is unconfirmed but it is understood they are consistent with a possible blow from a horse’s head or legs.
Emergency services scrambled to the scene and gave Anne medical care before taking her to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
She remains in the hospital for observation, Buckingham Palace has said.
Anne’s engagements this week have been cancelled and it is understood she will not be able to fly to Canada for a planned tour.
Japanese Emperor's love for... the Thames Barrier
EMPEROR Naruhito will be King Charles's guest at a State Banquet tonight.
But the Japanese Emperor kicked off his week in the UK by visiting one of his favourite places – the Thames Barrier.
Naruhito studied the history of the Thames when he was a graduate student at the University of Oxford more than 40 years ago.
The Emperor wrote about his love for the river in his memoir ‘The Thames and I’.
He told he fell in love with ordinary Brits after some strangers rushed to help him when he dropped his wallet in a shop and coins scattered.
Naruhito also recounted how he joined a raucous student pub crawl around Oxford, where he went by the nickname “Hiro”.
The Emperor wrote: “It would be impossible in Japan to go to a place where hardly anyone would know who I was.
“It is really important and precious to have the opportunity to be able to go privately at one’s own pace where one wants.”
This week Naruhito has visited the Thames Barrier, which had just opened when he was a student.
In the book, he wrote: “The memories of my time with the Thames come back to me.
“The beautiful scenery around me that healed me from my fatigue from research, and the days I jogged along the river.”
Naruhito will also return to Merton College, where Empress Masako also studied.
In his book Naruhito recounted how he was charmed by the mix between dons in their gowns and students in punk clothes.
Naruhito wrote: “I did not feel that was out of the ordinary. It seemed to me that both reflected the spirit of the place.
“This was, after all, a country which produced the Beatles and the miniskirt.
“I felt that while the British attach importance to old traditions, they also have the ability to innovate.
“I can never forget the moment when the silhouettes of the spires of Oxford one by one caught the evening light and seemed to float above the mists.
“This mystical sight, which has aroused so much admiration, is called Oxford’s dreaming spires.”
Buckingham Palace said: “Her Royal Highness is receiving appropriate expert care. No further details are being shared at this stage.
“Her Royal Highness will remain in Southmead Hospital unless or until her medical team advise otherwise.
“On doctors’ advice, Her Royal Highness’s engagements for the week ahead will be postponed.
“Her Royal Highness sends her apologies to any who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.
“The Japanese State Visit will go ahead as planned, though sadly Her Royal Highness will be unable to attend the State banquet.”
The princess is expected to make a full recovery and to return home later this week.
Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall and son Peter Phillips were on the estate at the time, along with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
King Charles, Queen Camilla, Anne’s brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and her nephew Prince William were all notified.
The princess was last seen enjoying Ladies Day at Royal Ascot last Thursday.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Everyone in the country is immensely fond of Her Royal Highness.”
The PM added: “We’re all sending her our best wishes for a swift recovery.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Wishing Her Royal Highness a speedy recovery.
“Sending my best wishes on behalf of all of us at the Labour Party.”
Anne made of 'extremely stern stuff', expert says
ROYAL expert Richard Fitzwilliams says Princess Anne will listen to medics' advice and miss a week of engagements - but will soon be back.
He said: “I think that obviously, and given the fact that she is nearly 74, there clearly will be a period that she will need to rest and recuperate.
“But Princess Anne is made of extremely stern stuff, very reminiscent of her father, Prince Philip.
“I mean he was regarded as even the most impatient patient, and I suspect that she will be too.
“She will be dying to return to work and will find being in hospital tremendously frustrating.
“She is invaluable to the Royal Family and is someone respected for her work ethic.
“As far as Princess Anne is concerned, it’s all about dedication, devotion to duty.
“It is very much the ethic which she has inherited from her parents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
“There will be a period where obviously she will be encouraged to take it easy, but equally duty calls, and she will be there.”