Japanese local media announced on Saturday that Emperor Naruhito would attend the funeral of the late ruler.
It would be a rather unusual gesture for Naruhito, underlines a daily newspaper: this trip would be the very first abroad since his enthronement in 2019, after the abdication of his father.
Also, the Emperor of Japan does not usually attend funerals outside of its borders.
According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK citing official sources on Saturday, the government and the imperial household are in the midst of preparations.
Empress Masako should also be present at the funeral, if her condition permits.
The Japanese press highlights the close ties between members of the British and Japanese royal families.
Naruhito's father, Akihito, was present in 1953 at the coronation of Elizabeth II.
In 1975, Elizabeth II visited Japan, a first for a British monarch.
She then met Emperor Hirohito, Naruhito's grandfather.
In a statement released after the monarch's death, Naruhito praised her
"many achievements and contributions
", also expressing "
his deep sadness"
.
The Emperor, who studied at the prestigious Oxford University, also thanked Elizabeth II for
"the many considerations she gave [him] during [his] studies and [his] visits to the United Kingdom
".